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Bible Notes - Tabernacle Commentaries
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Genesis 32:22
Comments
It is night time and the camp is already settled, but Jacob arises and sends his two wives, their two maids, and all his children over the brook Jabbok, a significant tributary of the Jordan. It is either a stream or a river – depending on the season – to the east of Jordan about 45 miles south of Galilee. Having sent his family ahead of him he returns to the side he has come from and is alone there. ‘An act of cowardice’ say some. ‘He sent them over to face Esau but does not go himself so he can see the carnage and get away’, but no, that doesn’t happen. Esau is not currently near, and the Jabbok is narrow and can be forded easily; it is not going to provide protection from Esau. Jacob does this because he is praying; he is troubled. He has sent his wives and children, flocks and herds, ahead because he is going to follow in due course, but first he must seek God’s face. His heart speaks to him of the need of a real encounter with the Lord.
Application
The event that we are about to read about is mysterious, but it parallels the encounter the seeking soul has with the Lord. Prayer is a very personal matter, and we need to find a quiet place where we can be alone with God. We need to know he has heard us and to persist in prayer until we are sure. We need to shut out all others because there is only one who can help us. Human help is out of its depth here, and we bring to God problems which no created power could help us with – the problem of out guilt, the problem of our bondage to sin, the problem of death and of the judgment that awaits us after death.
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