Genesis 32

Genesis 32:3-5

We have here Jacob still upon his journey towards Canaan. By the way he meets, 1. With good tidings from his God, ver. 1, 2. 2. With bad tidings from his brethren, to whom he sent a message to nearly his return, ver. 2—7. In his distress, 1. He divides his revenues, ver. 7—8. 2. He makes his prayer to God, ver. 9—12. 3. He sends a present to his brethren, ver. 13—23. 4. He worships with the angels, ver. 24—32.

1. AND Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2. And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God’s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanam.

v. 1, 2. God hath preserved him hitherto, and still continues to guard him safe home. He had the promise of protection,

and he trusted it; now he has the sight of his angelic-convoy, and may be comforted. Who can hurt them when angels minister unto? and need there was of every support, for his past dangers were only the prelude of greater impending. God thus prepares his people by strong confessions for difficult services. Note, When every believer draws near his last conflict in death, and Canaan is in view, then shall these attendant spirits surround the dying bed, to welcome the departing soul, and halge it safe in the bosom of Jesus. He called the place Mahanam, two hosts; they protected his front from Efau, and his rear from Laban.

3. And Jacob sent messengers before him to Efau his brother, ‘unto the land of Seir,’ the country of Edom. 4. And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Efau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now. 5. And I have oxen, and afies, flocks, and mess-servants, and women-servants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.

Judily apprehensive of Efau’s old grudge, he endeavours to passly him by a kind and humble messager, acquainting him with his return, and the prosperity God had shewed him. Note, (1.) Yielding pacifies wrath. It is wise often to make submissions to superiors, though unjustly exasperated against us. (2.) Abundance, which should make a good brother rejoice, to a wicked one often proves an occasion of greater envy and displeasure.

6. ¶ And the Messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Efau, and ‘also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. 7. Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that met with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels into two bands; 8. And said, If Efau come to the one company and fume it, then the other company which is left shall escape.

Genesis 32:6-8

We have here,

1. The messenger’s return; and a sad answer he brought back. Probably Efau had heard of Jacob’s coming, and was in the way with his band of men, breathing out fury and revenge. Note, (1.) A malicious spirit never forgets. (2.) Jealousy is cruel as the grave; even a brother’s life cannot stand before it. (3.) Power and policy are usually with the oppressors. What would become of the poor church of Christ, if some support more than human did not attend it?

2. Jacob’s fear. And reason enough he had for it. Note, (1.) Repeated trials must be expected by every Christian. (2.) Fears of approaching danger may be, where confidence in the promise is unthaken.

3. His disposition of his family. At least, one part may escape, if the other is fortress. Note, Though God hath given us his promise, we are nevertheless called to the use of all prudent means.

4. ¶ And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saith unto me, ‘Return unto thy country, and to thy kindness, and I will deal well with thee: 10. I am not worthy of the lead of all the mercies, and of all the truth which thou hast shewed unto thy servants; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I am become two bands. 11. Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Efau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smuff me, and ’the mother with the children. 12. And thou shalt, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.

Genesis 32:9-12

Jacob had made the best disposition his circumstances would admit of; but he depended more upon the effects of prayer, than upon the arm of flesh. Accordingly we find him upon his knees, pouring out his distress before God. Note, The more danger perifies us, the more loud should be our cry to God; for in him is our help. A glorious prayer this way, and well worth notice: his plea is urgent, and his arguments forcible. He approaches God as his covenant God, having the entail of the blessings promised to Abraham and Isaac. He pleads God’s warrant for his journey, and therefore God’s honour engaged for his protection. He acknowledges his own unworthiness of any favour, yet with thanksfulness mentions the great mercies he had received, as an argument to hope for more. He then speaks his fears and distress from his apprehensions of Efau; and since he had no prospect of help elsewhere, commits his cause with earnest importunity into his hand, who was able to save him, and clocks with his plea of God’s faithfulness; not

Before Chill 1897. 4 Chap. xxxiii. 18. 16. 4 Chap. xxxiii. 8, 72. 2 Heb. Patd. 4 Chap. xxxiii. 8. 4 Chap. xxxii. 11. Heb. I am to them all, 8. 4 Hos. 9. 14. 2 Heb. Gym. 1 Chap. xxxiii. 13. 14. i. e. The bush, or camps. Before Christ

so much to remind him of his promise, as to encourage his own heart to depend upon it. Learn hence, (1.) In all our trials, to spread them before the Lord. (2.) To come to God as our covenant God, believing his readiness to hear and help us. (3.) When in the way of our duty, we may boldly claim the fulfilment of his promise. (4.) Never let us forget our own vileness and sinfulness. (5.) Nor the great and repeated mercies we have already received, that no perfect distress may prevent our grateful acknowledgments. (6.) We cannot be too particular in our prayers, mentioning to God profess and circumstances, as to a friend who can be touched with the feeling of our distresses. (7.) To rise from our knees with confidence in the unchangeableness of God in his promise.

12. ¶ And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand, a present for Esau his brother; 14. Two hundred the-goats, and twenty-he-goats, two hundred ews and twenty rams. 15. Thirty-mile camels with their colts, forty kine and ten bulls, twenty the-asses and ten foles. 16. And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Esas over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove. 17. And he commanded the forenoft, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and afterth thee, saying, Whose art thou, and whither goeth thou? and whose are these before thee? 18. Then thou shalt say, These be thy servant Jacob’s; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and behold also he is behind us. 19. And so commanded he the second and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall you speak unto Esau, when you find him. 20. And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us: For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterwards I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of + me.

Heb. My fact.

Genesis 32:13-20

Jacob having poured out his soul to God in prayer, in dependence on his care, takes the most likely methods to appease his brother’s resentment.

1. By a considerable present, so divided into several droves, as both for them off, and served, from their repeated approach, to stay Esau for enquiry; thus giving him time to think, and such matter to move upon, as might allow the fury of his anger. Note, (1.) A present is a good letter of recommendation to a worldly mind. (2.) We cannot buy peace too dear. (3.) It is wisdom to present a part, if that can preserve the whole. Some through coreousness to spare a shilling often lose a pound. 2. By a submissive message, Esau must be called my lord, and Jacob his servant. Note, It tackles vain minds to have their tales repeated to them. Every servant pays his respects in Jacob’s name, and adds, that Jacob himself was behind. Note, (1.) In danger it is usually falsest to put on a good countenance. (2.) Apparent confidence in a man’s goodness lays him under a kind of obligation to shew it.

Decr. iii. Heb. Heb. Clerk to pols. § Heb. 6f. ending of the morning. § See Mat. vers. 41. § Cor. vii. 5. § See Luke vers. 43. § Mat. vii. 4.