Message Notes

YOUTH WORSHIP SERVICE 30 April 2022

Scripture Text: Genesis 32:1-8

Message: “This is God’s camp” Genesis 32:2

INTRODUCTION

1. The Covenant between Laban and Jacob had been sealed

2. There was no going back on what has been confirmed

3. The only way is “forward!”

MANIFESTATIONS OF ANGELS

1. The first manifestation of angels at Bethel

a. A ladder that reached up to heaven

b. Angels were ascending and descending Genesis 28:10-22

2. A second manifestation of angels at Mahanaim

a. Jacob was returning to Canaan

b. How he may have felt:

i) Some anxiety

ii) Some uncertainty

iii) Some fear

c. He saw them Genesis 32:2a

d. He understood in a fresh new way the presence of God’s angels

“This is God’s camp”

Genesis 32:2b

3. The presence of angels

a. They surround God’s people

b. But they may not manifest themselves

c. They are God’s servants attending to His children

Are they not all ministering spirits sent forth to minister for those who will inherit salvation?

Hebrews 1:14

SENDING MESSENGERS TO ESAU

1. Esau

a. He lived in Edom, or the land of Seir Genesis 32:3

b. This is a mountainous region that includes Mount Seir

2. Messengers sent to Esau

a) Jacob had many servants

b) Some of them were sent to Esau with a message from Jacob

3. The Message of Jacob

4 And he commanded them, saying, “Speak thus to my lord Esau, ‘Thus your servant Jacob says: “I have dwelt with Laban and stayed there until now.
5 I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favour in your sight.”’

Genesis 32:4-5

a) Jacob gave strict instructions to his servants (“commanded them”)

b) They were to address Esau as, “My lord Esau” Genesis 32:4a

c) They were to speak on behalf of Jacob

“Your servant Jacob”

Genesis 32:4b

d) A brief word about his stay with Laban

“I have dwelt with Laban and stayed there until now”

Genesis 32:4c

e) An explanation

I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants;
and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favour in your sight

Genesis 32:5

i) A plain statement

ii) This was not stated boastfully

iii) Jacob had been successful

iv) He seeks to find favour in Esau’s sight

THE RETURN OF THE MESSENGERS

1. They had delivered Jacob’s message

2. But Esau had not replied to Jacob’s message

3. The report of the messengers

Then the messengers returned to Jacob, saying,
“We came to your brother Esau, and he also is coming to meet you,
and four hundred men are with him.”

Genesis 32:6

a) The servants of Jacob had seen Esau

b) They did not have a message from Esau

c) But Esau was coming to see Jacob

d) And he was coming with 400 men

THE REACTION OF JACOB

7 So Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies.
8 And he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the other company which is left will escape.”

Genesis 32:7-8

1. Fear threatened to overwhelm Jacob

a) He was “greatly afraid”

b) He was “distressed”

2. A quick plan

a) He divided the people that were with him

b) This included the flocks, herds and camels

c) They were divided into two companies

3. The reasoning behind this plan

a) If Esau attacked one company

b) The other company may escape

4. This was an emergency plan

a) “Worst case scenario” thinking

b) Jacob was preparing for the worst

CONCLUSION

1. The presence of God’s angels

a) This was all but forgotten

b) There was no application of what he had seen

2. The power of Fear

a) It can cause very negative feelings

b) It can overwhelm a person

3. Faith in God

a) If Faith is little, it can do very little

b) If Faith is not strong, it cannot be applied meaningfully

4. We are reminded of the Disciples of the Lord Jesus who were caught in a storm

The Lord Jesus spoke to them:
“Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?”

Matthew 8:26

“Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith?”

Mark 4:40