After Jacob and Laban made peace it was not yet the end of Jacobs problems. On the contrary, his biggest problem lay in front of him like a hungry lion. Twenty years had now passed. Jacob was excited to go back home. But when Jacob saw the village of Seir before him. He became very worried. Suddenly Jacob realized that his brother Esau lived there and that he still wanted to kill him.
Jacob sent messengers to Esau with the following message.: I have cattle, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants. I send this message to you and ask you to accept us.: Jacob then waited anxiously for the messenger to return with good news like. (Your brother has forgiven you for a long time and he said you are very welcome.)
But when the messenger came back, he told Jacob that his brother was on his way to meet him with 400 men. Jacob was now very scared and prayed to God.: Please God save me from my brother Esau. I am afraid that my brother will kill all of us, even the children and please God you told me that You will make my children as many as the sand on the seashore. Jacob was still very worried.
He divided all the people and animals who were with him into two groups. Jacob thought by himself if his brother attacks the first group then he and his family in the second group have a chance to escape.
After Jacob separated the people and animals he started to pray.: Please God save me from my brother Esau. I am afraid that he will kill all of us, even the children and please God you told me that you will make my children as many as the sand on the seashore.
That night, Jacob could not sleep at all. He thought it would be good to give his brother a big gift. It may make his heart soft and then he may forgive him for what he did to him. So Jacob took 220 goat's, 220 sheep 30 camels and their young, 40 cows, 10 bulls and 30 donkeys. He then gave each flock of animals to his servants and give them their orders to go ahead of him and to keep some space between each herd. To all of them he said: When Esau my brother comes to you and asks you, ‘Whose animals are these you then should answer these animals belong to your servant Jacob. He sent them as a gift to you, my master Esau. And he also is coming behind us. Jacob thought, If he send these men ahead with gifts, maybe Esau will forgive him and accept him.
But during that night he got up and began moving his wives and his eleven sons across the river. That same night a Man came and wrestled with Jacob until the sun came up. When the Man saw that he could not win Jacob, he touched his leg and put it out of joint. Then the man said to Jacob, Let me go. The sun is coming up. But Jacob said, I will not let you go until You bless me. The Man asked him what his name was and Jacob said,: My name is Jacob. Then the Man said,: Your name will not be Jacob anymore you will be called Israel because you fought with God and with men, and you have won. Then the man blessed Jacob and left that place.
So Jacob named that place Peniel. He said: At this place, I saw God face to face, but my life was spared. Then the sun came up. He was limping because of his leg. So even today, the people of Israel don’t eat the muscle that is on the hip joint.
When Jacob saw Esau and the four hundred men he put the maidservants and their children in front and behind them Leah and her children and then Rachel and Joseph last.
Then he crossed over before them and bowed seven times as he approached to his brother.
Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him and they both burst out in tears.
Then Esau said: Who are all these people with you. Jacob answered: These are the children that God gave me. God has been good to me. Then Esau said, What were all those animals for? Jacob answered: These are my gifts to you. But Esau said, You don’t have to give me gifts, I have enough for myself But Jacob begged Esau to take the gifts. Because Jacob begged Esau to take the gifts, he accepted them. Esau forgave his brother for all the hurt he had caused in the past.
Thank you for reading.
Sources: ERV Easy to read Bible ICB International Children's Bible The Message Bible
Images: freebibleimages.org