I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST WHO GIVES ME STRENGTH
“[1] 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.”
Let’s pause here really, really quickly. There’s an interesting contrast here when it comes to the life of Jacob.
If you remember back to Genesis 28, we will see Jacob fleeing the land of his fathers. He was running from Esau. And while in the wilderness, with nothing in his pockets, God met him in a dream. In this dream, he saw heaven open and angels ascending and descending. When he woke up, he declared, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.”
Fast-forward 20 years, and Jacob is back in the wilderness returning home. He’s returning to the land he once left. And as he’s returning, uncertainty lays before him. And as uncertainty lays before him, God reminds him of that very same truth— “This is God’s camp!”
On both journeys, to and from, Jacob has had a supernatural encounter with God. At the beginning of his exile, God reminded him, “I am with you.” At the end of his exile, God reminded him, “I am with you.”
Everything about Jacob’s life has changed in these 20 years. Jacob, himself, has changed. But, God hasn’t. God is with Jacob now, just like he was then. When he had nothing in his pockets, God was there to take care of him. And when his bank accounts were full, God was there to take care of him.
This trajectory of Jacob’s life reminds me of Paul’s words in Philippians 4:11-13, “[11] Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned, in whatever situation I am, to be content. [12] I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. [13] I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
Paul is saying, “If I am in the wilderness like Jacob with nothing in my pockets, I know that God is with me. And if I’m returning home with great wealth, I know that God is with me. I can do both through Christ who gives me strength.”
Church, you will change, and your circumstances will change. But, God will never change. God is always faithful to his people. Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil for you are with me.
ANGELS UNAWARES
Now, this encounter is pretty fascinating. It’s as if God has allowed Jacob to peek behind the curtain of a hidden spiritual world that is always present. The angels of God met him, and when he saw them he said, ‘This is God’s camp!”
We learned back in Ephesians 6 that there is a spiritual battle taking place each and every day, and we don’t wrestle against flesh and blood. There are spiritual beings working behind the scenes in ways that we can’t see. But, here God allows Jacob to see these angels. They met him.
There’s a verse in Hebrews 13, that has caught my attention over the years. It says, “Let brothers love continue. Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.” This verse seems to imply that there may be times in our lives when we, like Jacob, have a physical encounter with an angel, where we entertain angels unawares. I’m unsure how, but the Bible consistently teaches us that God uses angels to carry out his purposes and to care for his people!
PEACE SEEKING
Let’s continue reading.
“[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.’”
So, it seems that Jacob is getting ahead of the curve here. He knows he can’t avoid Esau forever. So, instead of waiting for an unexpected encounter, he sends messengers ahead of him with a message of peace.
Jacob is seeking peace. And in the same way that Jacob sought peace, we should seek peace. Perhaps there is lingering conflict in your life with someone. Instead of avoiding it, maybe it would serve us well to address it?
God calls us to live in harmony with one another. Are you pursuing harmony? God calls us to seek to live peaceably with all. Are you seeking peace?
HUMILITY FLOWS FROM A RELATIONSHIP WITH GOD
Look at the language Jacob uses here— “My lord Esau,” “your servant Jacob,” “I have sent to tell my lord, in order that I may find favor in your sight.”
Now, we don’t know everything going on in Jacob’s heart at this point in time. Scripture doesn’t tell us his motives here. So, we have to be careful not to assume we know why he’s saying what he’s saying here. Instead, all we can really assess is the words spoken by Jacob here. And as we study his words, we see that the one who once deceived and manipulated Esau is now sending a message of peace and humility to Esau. The man who once grasped for position is no longer insisting on his position. The man who once exalted himself in now lowering himself. The one who once deceived and stole is about to offer gifts. The longer Jacob has walked with God, the more seemingly humble he has become. One of the clearest marks of walking with God is growing in humility.
As we see demonstrated in the life of Jesus, Jacob is becoming more and more like his God. Jesus, the king of kings, willfully chose to take on the role of a servant. The one who deserved to be served chose to serve.
Philippians 2:3 says, “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death of a cross.”
So, church, I think Jacob’s words here remind us of the simple truth that humility is a byproduct of walking with God. The longer you walk with God, the more of a servant you become. The longer you walk with God, the more you will begin to consider others more significant than yourself. Even if you begin to grow in a position or power, the title servant will always be a badge you wear proudly.
So, practically speaking. Has walking with Jesus made you more humble? Are you quicker to serve or be served? Are you a pursuer of peace or a hoarder of conflict?
If you are a servant of Christ, you are also a servant of others.
PLANNING AND PRAYING
So, Jacob sends a message of peace out to Esau. In it are words of humility. Jacob wants Esau to know he’s returning and that he’s been blessed by God. He’s been with their uncle Laban and he now has oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants.
Fingers crossed. Maybe Esau will have a change of heart and be excited to hear from him.
Listen, I remember sending texts to Kayla when we were dating and being so anxious waiting to hear a response. I can imagine the wait for a response must have been crippling for Jacob during this time. How is Esau going to respond? Is he still mad? Has he moved on?
Well, when the messengers return, they return with a message that is less than favorable. As we see in verse 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.’”
This is terrifying news for Jacob. 400 men likely communicates to Jacob war. It signifies to Jacob that Esau is coming to cash in on his old desire to kill Jacob.
So, Jacob’s mind is racing. His knees are weak and his palms are sweaty. He’s rocking on the floor in a feedle position with his head between his legs, breathing into a brown paper sack. He’s terrified! Anxious. Fearful. Greatly afraid and distressed. And, as his anxiety is at an all time high, he makes a plan— “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.”
So, in true Jacob fashion, he begins to strategize and figure out a plan of what to do if things go south whenever Esau arrives. He divides everyone and everything he has into two camps. And his motive in doing so is so that if one camp gets attacked, the other camp can flee.
Now, I don’t think the point of this passage is to criticize Jacob’s actions here. There’s wisdom is planning.
I’m not sure if his plan would actually work, if I’m honest. But, I think Jacob’s plan here reveals to us what he believes Esau’s motives are. He’s convinced that Esau is coming to do harm. Therefore, he’s seeking to soften the blow of the impending doom.
But, as we continue to read, we see something beautiful taking place. We see for the first time in Scripture Jacob pray to the LORD.
Jacob doesn’t stop with his plans. As he’s planning, he’s praying. His fear has driven him to the feet of the LORD. Here he cries out to the LORD with a cry of humble desperation! The schemer humbly cries out to God for help.
Look at verse 9.
“[9] And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O LORD who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ [10] I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. [11] Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. [12] But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”
Notice the first thing Jacob does. He remembers who God is! Jacob revers the name of God, reminding himself of the generational faithfulness of God over the years— “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac…”
The God he is praying to is the God who was faithful to his father and father’s father. This is the God who called Abraham. This is the God who provided for Isaac. This is the God who has been faithful from one generation to the next.
It’s as if Jacob is preaching to his own heart before he ever makes a request known. This is one of the many beauties of prayer! It reorients our hearts back towards God! As we pray to God, we are reminded of who God is! He is the one who has been faithful to all generations!
The second thing we see is Jacob reminding himself (and God) of what God has called him to do. He remembers what God has said— “O LORD who said to me, ‘Return to your country and and to your kindred, that I may do you good…’”
So, as Jacob is facing the grave danger before him, he is reminding himself why he is facing the danger before him. He’s approaching danger specifically because he obeyed God. If he had stayed with Laban, Esau wouldn’t be on the horizon. Had he not followed the LORD, he wouldn’t be facing four hundred men. So, he’s crying out to the God who has led him to the danger he’s about to be facing.
Church, obedience to God is always worth it! But, obedience may not always be easy! There may be nights where you are crying out to the LORD in prayer, asking him to help you as you hobble through difficulties that are a direct result of your obedience to him. Sometimes following God is what leads us into hardships.
But if God leads you into the storm, you can rest knowing He has not abandoned you in the storm. The God who called you is the God who walks with you. The God who leads you is the God who sustains you. The God who sent you is the God who will never leave you.
When obedience becomes costly, take heart. The presence of hardship is not evidence of God’s absence, nor is it a sign to turn around. Stand firm in your obedience and cry out to the God who is with you! He invites you to cry out to him! The God who is with you is the God who loves you… And the God who loves you is the God who has promised to work all things together for our good and his glory.
So, in the face of apparent danger, Jacob is crying out to God, reminding him of the promises he’s given him. But, then he bows down before the throne of God with a posture of humility. He confesses who he is before a holy God!
He says, “I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps.” So, he’s bowing before God in humility. He’s rightly saying how he doesn’t deserve even the smallest glimpse of loving faithfulness by God.
There are no truer words than these spoken by Jacob here. Every child… every goat… every cow… every camel… was a gift undeserved. Jacob knows he doesn’t deserve even an ounce of love or faithfulness from God.
Church, this is arguably one of the greatest marks of spiritual maturity. The longer you walk with God, the smaller your view of self should become. The longer you walk with God, the less impressed you become with yourself and the more amazed you become with his grace. The longer you walk with God, the more you become convinced that you are unworthy, but God is. You are unfaithful, but God is faithful.
The beauty of the gospel is that God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble. All who bow in humility before God crying out to him in humility, he will answer. All who humble themselves before the LORD will be exalted by the LORD!
So, Jacob has developed a right view of himself, which has driven him to God, not away from him. He’s crying out to him for help!
Notice the two things Jacob uses to describe God: “Steadfast love” and “faithfulness.” He’s learned that God’s love will never run out! God will never stop loving his people! And he will never break a promise! He will never abandon those who belong to him. So, the longer you walk with God, the clearer these two truths about God should become. The longer you walk with God, the smaller your view of self should become and the bigger your view of God should become.
You are unworthy, but God is worthy. You are unfaithful, but God is faithful. He is steadfast in love and faithfulness.
Jacob then humbly brings his request before the LORD, “Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”
So, he’s pinning his request up against the promises of God. He’s honestly telling the LORD his fears while reminding the LORD of the promises he’s given him. What a beautiful thing to be able to pour out your fears to the LORD. But, notice how Jacob ends his prayer— “But you said…”
He’s taking his fears before God, yes. But, he’s also taking God’s promises before God and laying them at his feet— “God, I’m fearful and uncertain. But, I’m certainly trusting the promises you’ve given.”
So, listen. If God says something will happen, it will happen.
If he says blessing is on the horizon, blessing is on the horizon. If he says persecution will come, persecution will come. If he promises forgiveness of sins, sins will be forgiven. If he promises to meet our needs, our needs will be met. If he promises to complete the good work he has begun in us, he will complete the good work he’s begun in us. If he promises to work together all things for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to his purpose, he will work all things together for good! If he promises to display his power through our weakness, he will display his power through our weakness. If Jesus has promised to go and prepare a place for us, he is preparing a place for us. If he promises to bring us to a place where there will be no more tears, pain, or crying, he will bring us to this place. If he promises to return again, he will return again. If he promises to judge all of humanity, he will judge all of humanity. What God says he will do, he will do! So, as we bring our requests before the LORD, may we lean heavy upon the promises God has given us in his word.