GENESIS 32
Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 And when Jacob saw them he said, “This is God’s camp!” So he called the name of that place Mahanaim. 3 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom, 4 instructing them, “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: Thus says your servant Jacob, ‘I have sojourned with Laban and stayed until now. 5 I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, in order that I may find favor in your sight.’ 6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him.” 7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps, 8 thinking, “If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the camp that is left will escape. – Genesis 32:1-8
GENESIS 32 JACOB CONFRONTED WITH FEAR OF ESAU
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
After twenty years of absence, Jacob comes home to his homeland
On his way towards it, the angels of God showed themselves to him
And he called that place Mahanaim for he knew it was God’s camp
Now he is confronted with fear of Esau, so he sent advanced message
He used all his possessions to protect himself from possible attack
After learning Esau had four hundred men with him, he got more scared.
After being away from his parents for over twenty years, Jacob longed so much to see them again. I couldn’t imagine what might have gone into his mind and how he felt after Laban pursued him and claimed he stole from him. But now, he also is probably so apprehensive that he now has to confront the stealing he had done to his older brother Esau. We see how God has truly been with him, growing him in humility and also in wealth. He planned to pay off his brother with most of what he owned.
When he found out that Esau was meeting him with four hundred men, the fear was debilitating. If I were in the same predicament, I would probably faint from anxiety and fear of what Esau could do to him to retaliate for what he had done to him.
REFLECTION
- What should believers do when we are confronted with fear?
