The Bible tells us that without God we can do nothing and that with God, we can do all things. In the Old Testament, the account of Jacob and Esau reveals some marvelous truths about this aspect of leadership. Early in life, Jacob exploited his older brother by negotiating his first born birthright for a bowl of soup and on another occasion he tricked his dying father into giving him the patriarchal family blessing, which was planned for Esau. Needless to say, Esau was bitter over these events and had promised himself that he would kill his brother, once his father passed away.
Meanwhile, Jacob’s mother sent him far away to their homeland to seek a wife from their own people. Jacob encountered God on his journey and God promised to bless Jacob. Jacob arrived at his family’s homeland and he married two wives; Leah and Rachel. As was acceptable in that day, he fathered children not only from his two wives, but also their personal handmaids. God blessed him with 11 sons and a daughter and their family became wealthy.
After 20 years, Jacob decided to return home to Canaan. As Jacob and his family traveled towards Canaan, he was very aware that he would probably have a confrontation with his brother and he assumed that his brother would still be holding a grudge. Jacob sent messengers ahead to Esau to tell him that he was coming; hoping that he would be friendly to him. The messengers returned with the ominous news that Esau was coming to meet him with an army of 400 men. This terrified Jacob and he started strategizing about what he could do.
First, he divided his whole clan with livestock into two groups, thinking that if Esau attacks one group, perhaps the other can escape. Then, Jacob prayed and reminded God of his promise to take care of him and treat him kindly and to multiply his descendants to more than the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore.
When he woke up the next morning, he had a new idea. He selected 550 different animals from his flocks and herds to send to Esau as a gift. He divided these animals in groups and assigned them to servants. He sent each group on ahead and left distance between them. He told the servants that when they meet Esau, they are to tell him that these are a gift to him and that Jacob is right behind him. Jacob thought that all these gifts might perhaps appease Esau.
This drama played out that day and Jacob went to sleep again in his camp. Jacob was clearly troubled, because he got up in the middle of the night and decided to take another step to protect against the potential attack of Esau. Jacob moved his wives, their children, and all of his possessions to the opposite side of a river they had crossed. Jacob returned to his camp all alone.
Into the night, Jacob wrestled with God for a blessing and God renewed his promise to him and blessed him. God changed Jacob's name to Israel. Israel named that place Peniel, which means 'face of God', because he felt he had come that close to God.
As the day broke, Jacob rose up and joined his family. He looked up and saw Esau approaching with his 400 men. Jacob had one more strategic idea. He grouped his 4 wives with their sons in this order; each of the maidservant wives, then Leah, then Rachel the wife he loved the most. Jacob went out in front to meet his brother. When he met him, he bowed to the ground seven times in respect. Esau ran to meet him and threw himself at Jacob, embraced and kissed him. Then, they both wept. God had blessed Esau over the years, too, and he no longer held any grudge against Jacob.
The main thing we can learn from this story is that we need to do everything we can in the physical and then trust God for the rest. Jacob exhausted every idea he could think of to protect his family in the face of the potential deadly confrontation with Esau. He also spent time in prayer to make sure he was in God’s will and to seek His help. In a recent sermon I heard recently, Pastor Dave DeHaan made the comment, “Don't expect God to do the things you need to do and don't try to handle the things that only He can handle”. This is so true.
Pray for God’s direction. Use all of your God-given talents and abilities to do the things you know to do or are able to do. Once you have done all that, pray and put the situation in God’s hands. Step out in faith, knowing that God promised never to leave us, nor forsake us.
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