COME AS A CHILD LESSON 84 JACOB PREPARES TO FACE HIS PAST

(Written by Sheila Gail Landgraf)

God assured Jacob He would be with him as he went back to his father, Isaac’s home.  God also warned Laban to be careful how he treated Jacob.   Jacob and Laban set up a memorial that divided their people.  They both agreed that they would not cross over to harm one another.  They promised to let God be the judge between them if they did. 

Jacob traveled on with his family and a wonderful thing happened as they entered the land of Jacob’s birth; the angels of God met them!  What a welcome home greeting that must have been!  When Jacob saw the presence of the angels in that spot of land, he decided to camp there.  He named that particular area Mahanaim (which means “two camps.”)

From there Jacob sent messengers ahead to meet Esau in Seir, in the country of Edom.  They were to say to him:  “Your servant Jacob says I have been staying with Laban and have remained there until now.  I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, male and female servants.  Now I am sending this message to my lord so that I may find favor in your eyes.”  They returned to Jacob having delivered the message and told him that Esau and 400 of his men were coming to meet them.

With great fear and distress Jacob divided his group into two camps.  He thought if Esau attacked one group the other could escape.  Jacob then begin to pray, reminding God that he was doing just what He had asked him to do and reminding God that He had promised to protect him.  His prayer was very humble, stating to God that he was unworthy of all the promises God had given.  Jacob did bring up the covenant promises and reminded God of them again.  He asked humbly for God’s protection in light of all these things.

After thinking it through in prayer, Jacob divided out much of his possessions and put different servants in charge of each.  He spaced them out and put them in front of everyone.  As they, one by one, were reaching Esau they were to present Esau with these very valuable and generous gifts from Jacob and to tell him that Jacob was coming behind them.  Jacob hoped that the gifts would appeal to Esau's anger and he would be easy on Jacob's caravan as they approached.

With all of these strategic plans in place, Jacob paused and spent the night in the camp.  

Can you imagine the thoughts running through Jacob's head as he tried to get sleep that night?