Genesis 32:1 Commentary and Bible Study

Jacob had been sent away to Haran by his father Isaac, in order to seek a wife. At the same time he had been escaping from the murderous intentions of his hot-tempered brother, Esau, following his success in tricking Isaac into blessing him rather than Esau. Esau had wanted to kill Jacob, and word had reached Rebekah who was also involved in the deception. She had called Jacob and told him, ‘Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; ⁴⁴ And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away; ⁴⁵ Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence’ (Genesis 27:43-45). Now after 20 years with Laban, Jacob is returning home because God has told him it is time to go back. He has to make peace with Esau. He returns in accordance with his vow at Bethel: ‘Jacob [had] vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, ²¹ So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God’ (Genesis 28:20-21). At God’s command he is going back, even though he has heard no word from his mother. He did not know whether this was because Esau was still angry or because his mother was no longer alive. Jacob is still to the east of Jordan, and he has this vision of the hosts of God with him. The name he gives to the place, Mahanaim, means two camps. Some see this as two separate camps of angels, but most see it as the camp of the angels of God and his own camp – his camp in the physical world and also God’s normally invisible camp. He sees a great host of angels and they meet with him. Why now is he given this? It is a remarkable assurance to him at this crucial time and makes a tremendous impression on him. It also taught him to compare his earthly with his spiritual lot. If the angels of God with all their power are with us, how can any enemy we might face do us any real harm? This was a kind of welcome to him, but also an unseen escort. It is amazing how such things can fade for almost at once he was afraid. True of all of us. We have all had astonishing answers to prayer yet we can stumble on in fear. God had told him to return to the promised land, and he has reason to fear that Esau is still angry with him. He has endured long persecution. The vision assures him that his deliverance from Laban was by the hand of God, and God would be with him. This is something quite unusual. Now it was sealed to his consciousness, you have been brought out by the mighty power of God.