NOW that Jacob was once more in the land of Canaan, he knew that he would soon have to meet his brother Esau.
Instead of being filled with confidence in God’s protecting care, as he should have been after God had sent His host of angels to meet him in the way, he was full of distrust, for he feared that Esau’s heart would still be full of enmity, and that he would be ready to kill him. So he sent messengers ahead with a very gracious message to Esau. But even this message showed out the shrewd, scheming disposition of Jacob, rather than his confidence in God; for he bids the messengers call Esau, lord, and he takes the place of being Esau’s servant; and this when he knew that by his father’s blessing Esau must take the place of servant and he should have the place of superiority.
The messengers went on their way, but ere long they returned to Jacob and told him they had met Esau and he was on his way to meet him and had four hundred men with him. This word frightened Jacob and threw him into great distress. You may see from this, dear children, how wrong conduct will give a bad conscience, and how one may suffer much in this way. Jacob did not at once turn to God, as God’s children should always do in time of trouble; but he first made his plans, and divided his company and his flocks and his herds into two bands saying, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape; then he called upon God, owning his own unworthiness and asking God to deliver him from the hand of his brother Esau.
Jacob remained in that place that night; and he made his preparations for meeting Esau. He took droves of cattle and sheep and camels and asses, and sent them on before, as a present to Esau, thinking thus to appease his brother’s anger. As drove after drove would meet Esau, those in charge were to tell him when he asked whose flocks and herds these were, that they were his servant Jacob’s. And they were to say, It is a gift sent to my lord, to Esau; and behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. So the present went on before. That night Jacob got his wives and sons and all that he had ready, and sent them over the river Jabbok; and he was left alone. Then there came an angel of God and wrestled with him. In all the times that God had spoken to Jacob, in dreams and through angels, Jacob had not learned to walk before Him and trust in Him as Abraham had done. Even now he was making his own plans, in unbelief, although he had cried to God to deliver him from his brother Esau. Jacob was one who went his own way, and did his own will, and now God was about to deal with him. He had been like a foolish child; instead of trusting God he was always trying to manage for himself. But God loves His own too well to allow them long to go their own way; sooner or later they must learn submission. Jacob did not seem ready yet to fully submit when on that night of his distress the angel of God wrestled with him. He had not yet learned what a weak and sinful man he was. But it is God with whom he has to do and he must yet learn it. At break of day the angel touched his thigh, and Jacob went halting for the rest of his earthly pilgrimage. Ah! now he feels his weakness, and his dependence upon God; he is shorn of his strength. But he will not let the angel go until he blesses him. And God gave to him victory and blessing after the needed lesson was learned.
Now that he has had all out with God he can go forward and meet Esau. Now that he has learned of God, the deliverance which he sought at God’s hand can be granted.
When day had come Jacob looked and saw Esau coming with his band of men. He arranged the wives and children, putting the handmaids, with their children, first; then Leah and her children; then Rachel and Joseph last; but he himself went on before, the Lord giving him courage, no doubt. He bowed himself seven times to the ground until he came near to Esau. But Esau ran forward and put his arms about Jacob, and kissed him; and they wept together. Thus God had graciously disposed Esau’s heart, and the meeting which Jacob so much dreaded was one that brought from him tears of joy.
After being urged of Jacob, Esau took the fine present which he had sent on before for him; and then he returned to his home in Seir. Jacob went on to Shalem and built an altar there. But God afterwards told him to arise and go to Bethel and dwell there; and to make there an altar to God who had appeared to him in that place when he was fleeing from the face of Esau his brother.
The hearts of Esau and Jacob seem to have been kindly disposed toward each other after this. Together they buried their father Isaac, who died at the age of one hundred and eighty years.
ML 01/26/1902