At least twenty years prior to Jacob’s journey to Haran, he lived in Canaan under the threat of his brother, Esau, who planned to slay him the moment their father, Isaac, had died. This was due to Jacob’s manipulating circumstances involving Esau’s birthright (Genesis 25:29-34), how he had tricked their father into giving him Esau’s blessing, as well. In that culture, those things were to go to Esau as Isaac’s firstborn. Their mother, Rebekah, had told Jacob, before he left to live with her brother, Laban, that she would send for him, when Esau’s wrath was turned away (Genesis 27:42-44). The text never mentions that Rebekah sent for Jacob, so for all Jacob knew, Esau’s threat still remained over Jacob’s life, and he was ever conscious of the need to come to a more peaceful arrangement between him and his brother.
Therefore, while he remained in Mahanaim under the protection of the messengers of the Lord, Jacob sent his messengers to Esau, his brother, who was at that time in the land of Seir, the country of the Horites (Genesis 14:6), but that land would later become his country (Genesis 32:3; cp. 36:5-8). Jacob told his messengers to tell his brother that he had returned from Haran, where he lived with their uncle, Laban, and served him until this time. The tone of Jacob’s message was one of humility, calling Esau his lord, while referring to himself as a servant both to Esau, and by implication, the servant of Laban for 20 years. Jacob’s messengers were to tell Esau that, while he was in Haran, he had become very wealthy, having oxen, beasts of burden, flocks and many servants, both male and female. The implication was that Jacob had no need of Isaac’s wealth nor what Esau believed should come to him by inheritance. Jacob had hoped that saying so would give him grace in the sight of his brother, who had twenty years prior threatened his life (Genesis 32:3-5).
Nevertheless, when the messengers returned to Jacob, they were unable to bring a word of peace from his brother, after announcing Jacob’s return to the Land of Canaan. Instead, they told Jacob that Esau was coming to meet him with 400 of his men (Genesis 32:6). Why did he come with such a great force? Certainly, Jacob received such information as a threat, and he was put in great distress (Genesis 32:7). However, in the end, Esau is seen to have merely wished to welcome his brother back to the Land of Canaan (Genesis 33:4). Perhaps, Esau’s great entourage of 400 men was merely to show Jacob that he, too, was an important man of great wealth, who had grown accustomed to making a grand entrance with a strong escort, and who had already begun to accumulate his wealth with the sword (cp. Genesis 27:40).
On the other hand, was Jacob’s fear of his brother really unwarranted? Was he a timid man, given to fear, when his brother really wished to greet him with honor? If this is so, how could he be called a prince who had power with God in prayer? How could he have prevailed, if he was overcome with fear (cp. Genesis 32:28)? It seems more probable that Esau had evil intentions from the beginning, but Jacob addressed his fears before the Lord in prayer, and prevailed. The Lord changed Esau’s heart, while Esau was coming to Jacob, just as he did Saul’s intent to slay David (1Samuel 26:21).
As for Jacob, the news of his brother’s coming made him afraid. Yet, Jacob didn’t prepare to greet him with an armed defense. Instead, he divided his company into two groups, and placed them far enough apart that, if Esau attacked the one, the other could escape safely away (Genesis 32:7-8). Moreover, in prayer, Jacob reminded the Lord that it was he who told him to return to the Land of Promise, and he had promised Jacob that he would multiply his descendants so that they couldn’t be numbered, because they were so many. Moreover, although he didn’t feel worthy of the least of the Lord’s mercies, Jacob placed himself and his family in the Lord’s hands, hoping for his salvation in the threat of extermination (Genesis 32:9-12).
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