Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them he said, “This is God’s camp!” So he called the name of that place Mahanaim.
And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom, instructing them, “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: Thus says your servant Jacob, ‘I have sojourned with Laban and stayed until now. 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.’”
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.” 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, thinking, “If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the camp that is left will escape.”
Comment: Leaving Paul to think about his future trip to Rome (see yesterday’s devotional), we return to Jacob as he travels back to Canaan and his estranged and embittered brother. The same words can have many different nuances. I raise several questions which I’m not going to try to answer but believe that the story is true, and maybe I can get the details filled out in heaven.
Were the ‘angels of God’ physical people or seen in a dream or in a vision? The two camp situation maybe leads to think of earthly realities.
What did Jacob mean by addressing his brother as lord Esau?
Did the two camps described at the beginning give Jacob the plan to divide his huge travelling mass of people and properties into two? He doesn’t seem sure of the outcome!
Prayer: Help me to remember that we walk by faith and not by sight, O Lord.
As I read it! 