Daily Devotions
Genesis
"Return to your rest, O my soul, For the Lord has dealt bountifully with you. Psalm 116:7
Text: Genesis 32:1-32
PRACTICAL DETAILS AFTER PRAYER
With all his heart, Jacob pleaded with the Lord for deliverance! He did not stop there! He felt that he must do all he can to convince his brother Esau that he was sorry concerning the past. He had returned a changed man and he wanted a full reconciliation with his twin brother! What better way to appease his brother’s wrath than to offer him a most handsome present!
“So he lodged there that same night, and took what came
to his hand as a present for Esau his brother.”
GENESIS 32:13
A SIGNIFICANT PRESENT
Jacob must have been greatly blessed indeed! At this point of time, he must have felt very glad that he could make a great present to his brother Esau. The gift that he was presenting to his brother was not insignificant at all.
“Two hundred female goats and twenty male goats,
two hundred ewes and twenty rams,
thirty milk camels with their colts,
forty cows and ten bulls,
twenty female donkeys and ten foals.”
GENESIS 32:14-15
HUMBLE GREETINGS TO BE PRESENTED AS WELL
The present was well thought out. The next part was just as important. The servants were given strict instructions as to how they were to address Esau when they meet up with him.
“Then he delivered them to the hand of his servants,
every drove by itself, and said to his servants,
‘Pass over before me, and put some distance between
successive droves.’ And he commanded the first one, saying,
‘When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, saying,
“To whom do you belong, and where are you going?
Whose are these in front of you?” then you shall say,
“They are your servant Jacob’s. It is a present sent
to my lord Esau; and behold he also is behind us.” ‘
So he commanded the second, the third, and all who followed
the droves…”
GENESIS 32:16-19
Jacob felt that he must do all he can to appease his brother. What he offered Esau was nothing compared to the gift of reconciliation with his brother!
“I will appease him with the present that goes before me,
and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.”
GENESIS 32:20