Genesis 32:17-18 He instructed the one in the lead: “When my brother Esau meets you and asks, ‘Who do you belong to, and where are you going, and who owns all these animals in front of you?’ then you are to say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift sent to my lord Esau, and he is coming behind us.’ ”
If I’m honest, these verses support what commentary was saying yesterday. I thought maybe Jacob was just trying to make reparations for his trickery all those years ago, but today’s verses have the feeling of a straight-up bribe.
Genesis 32:19 He also instructed the second, the third and all the others who followed the herds: “You are to say the same thing to Esau when you meet him.
I want to say that yesterday I was giving Jacob the benefit of the doubt, willing to believe that Jacob felt he owed his brother something for tricking him out of his birthright blessing. Today has the distinct feeling of “If I shower him with enough wealth, he’ll be so dazzled that he won’t be angry anymore.” That is definitely not trusting God.
Genesis 32:20 And be sure to say, ‘Your servant Jacob is coming behind us.’ ” For he thought, “I will pacify him with these gifts I am sending on ahead; later, when I see him, perhaps he will receive me.”
Precious Savior, You know trust is hard for me. You know I have a long, sordid history of turning things over to You only to take them right back up again and try to proceed on my own. I love You. I do trust You. I know that You will never leave me nor forsake me and that because I am Yours, in the end, all will be well. Help me to trust You in the daily little things that I have the bad habit of trying to take care of on my own. Help me, Jesus. Amen.
Genesis 32:21 So Jacob’s gifts went on ahead of him, but he himself spent the night in the camp.
Have a blessed day.