When God designs his people for great trials, he prepares them by great comforts.
While Jacob, to whom the promise belonged, had been in hard service, Esau was become a prince.
Jacob sent a message, showing that he did insist on his birth-right. Yielding pacifies great offenses, Ecclesiastes10:4. We must not refuse to speak respectfully, even to those unjustly angered with us. Jacob received an account of Esau's warlike preparation against him, and was greatly afraid.
A lively sense of fear arising from it, may be found united with humble confident in God's power and promise.
Genesis 32:1-8
Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him. When Jacob saw them, he said, "This is the camp of God!" So he named that place Mahanaim. Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. He instructed them: "This is what you are to say to my lord Esau: ‘Your servant Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now. I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, male and female servants. Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes.’”
When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.”
In great fear and distress Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups,and the flocks and herds and camels as well. He thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one group, the group that is left may escape.”
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