Browse Bible Study Resources

Daily Devotions

Genesis

Genesis 
Day 
Day 250

"Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live." Psalm 116:2

Text: Genesis 32:1-32

ALARMING NEWS

The messengers soon returned with alarming news. They did not know how to interpret what they had seen.

“Then the messengers returned to Jacob, saying,
‘We came to your brother Esau, and he also is coming to
meet you, and four hundred men are with him.'”
GENESIS 32:6

The messengers did not know how to interpret the meaning of Esau coming with four hundred men? Why would he come and meet with Jacob with four hundred men? Could he have nursed his anger all these years? Esau had sworn that he would kill Jacob after the death of their father Isaac. Was he going to take revenge on him after all these years?


PANIC ATTACK

What was Jacob going to do? Panic struck him hard. The Lord’s promises were all but forgotten! His recent deliverance from the wrath of Laban was also forgotten! His recent encounter with a band of angels also did not bolster his faith! Such was his fear!

“So Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed;
and he divided the people that were with him,
and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies.
And he said, ‘If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it,
then the other company which is left will escape.'”
Genesis 32:7-8

1. Expectation of Defeat

Jacob knew that he could not stand against Esau should he attack him! He must have remembered that Esau was a skilled hunter. He was only a shepherd!

2. Contingency plan made

It seemed wise to divide his family into two camps. Surely Esau cannot kill all in his family. If he attacked one family, then the rest of the family might be able to make good their escape.


THE ONLY SANE THING TO DO

There was only one course of action left. Jacob had to seek the Lord in prayer and plead for mercy to be shown to him!

“Then Jacob said, ‘O God of my father Abraham
and God of my father Isaac, the Lord who said to me,
‘Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well
with you’…”
GENESIS 32:9

Jacob must exercise all the faith he could muster and pour it all into this prayer!