On the Way to the Promised Land...

I Go, Sir!

(Genesis 32:1-21, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, May 17, 2015)

[32:1] 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.
[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.’”
[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.” [7] 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, [8] thinking, “If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the camp that is left will escape.”

Even with the encouragement of an angelic visitation, and a plan for entreating the favor of Esau, Jacob was “greatly afraid.” He split up his family and possessions into two groups and cried out to God in his distress.

[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.’”

In his prayer he reminded the Lord of God's own direction and prior promises. He also humbled himself before the Lord and admitted his fears. Finally, he asked for deliverance based on the Lord's own covenant promises that had been given to three generations of men.

[13] So he stayed there that night, and from what he had with him he took a present for his brother Esau, [14] two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, [15] thirty milking camels and their calves, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. [16] These he handed over to his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass on ahead of me and put a space between drove and drove.” [17] He instructed the first, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, ‘To whom do you belong? Where are you going? And whose are these ahead of you?’ [18] then you shall say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a present sent to my lord Esau. And moreover, he is behind us.’” [19] He likewise instructed the second and the third and all who followed the droves, “You shall say the same thing to Esau when you find him, [20] and you shall say, ‘Moreover, your servant Jacob is behind us.’” For he thought, “I may appease him with the present that goes ahead of me, and afterward I shall see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.” [21] So the present passed on ahead of him, and he himself stayed that night in the camp.
Jacob was afraid of his brother. His plan remained the same. He would try to “appease him with the present” that he would send ahead. Jacob had more to learn at this critical moment in his life. The Lord would be his teacher. His God would meet with him in the midst of his fears and plans.

Put the Word to Work: In Christ we have the ultimate solitary warrior. His enemies were real. In order to accomplish our redemption, Jesus cried out to His Father, confronted His own very rational fears, and continued on the path of obedience. He said, “I go, Sir,” and He went.

Memory Verse from the Songs of Ascents—Psalm 130:7-8 O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Gospel Reading—Matthew 21:28-32 – The parable of the two sons