32:3-5
Jacob sends messengers on ahead of him. “Seir” means “hairy”, and “Edom” sounds like the Hebrew word for red. Esau is probably already becoming a nation, Edom is the nation that arose out of Esau. The messengers are to give Esau a brief summary of the past twenty years. The mention of his wealth implies that Jacob is prepared to offer gifts, though that is not stated explicitly here. The messengers are sent in order to get an initial sounding out of Esau.
32:6-8
The messengers return with the news that Esau is coming to meet Jacob. There is no indication of what Esau’s attitude is, whether he is coming to meet him in friendship or confrontation. Jacob thinks the worst, again a reaction most of us have had. So he splits his people and wealth into two camps, thinking that if one camp is attacked at least the other one will survive. There are some who see this as a lack of faith. Maybe it is, but Jacob’s trust was ultimately not in his strategies, but in the Lord. He looks to the Lord above all else. Even when we are walking in faith we will do many things that are not really necessary, and ultimately do not do any good. We never walk in perfect faith or obedience, but if the bottom line is that our trust is in the Lord that is the main thing.
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