Reconciliation Now! Genesis 32:1-8

May the mumbling commence!

Yesterday, we had an unhappy parting.  Would the unhappy parting be followed by an even unhappier reunion?  There was the reunion with Esau to stew over (Pun intended – sorry!).  Have by-gone’s really become by-gone’s?  Read from Peterson’s The Message:

            And Jacob went his way.  Angels of God met him.  When Jacob saw them he said, “Oh!  God’s Camp!”  And he named the place Mahanaim (Campground).

            Then Jacob sent messengers on ahead to his brother Esau in the land of Seir in Edom.  He instructed them: “Tell my master Esau this, ‘A message from your servant Jacob: I’ve been staying with Laban and couldn’t get away until now.  I’ve acquired cattle and donkeys and sheep; also men and women servants.  I’m telling you all this, my master, hoping for your approval.’”

            The messengers came back to Jacob and said, “We talked to your brother Esau and he’s on his way to meet you.  But he has four hundred men with him.”

            Jacob was scared.  Very scared.  Panicked, he divided his people, sheep, cattle, and camels into two camps.  He thought, “If Esau comes on the first camp and attacks it, the other camp has a chance to get away.” (Genesis 32:1-8)

Now read the same passage from the NIV translation:

Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him.  When Jacob saw them, he said, "This is the camp of God!" So he named that place Mahanaim. 

Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom.  He instructed them: "This is what you are to say to my master Esau: 'Your servant Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now.  I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, menservants and maidservants. Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes.'" 

When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, "We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him." 

In great fear and distress Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups, and the flocks and herds and camels as well.  He thought, "If Esau comes and attacks one group, the group that is left may escape."  (Genesis 32:1-8)

I have very little to take to task in the differences between the NIV and Peterson’s work.  Did Jacob simply remain with Laban for twenty years (NIV)?  Or was he unable to come home before then (Peterson)?  There is truth in both statements, but neither of the statements are the whole truth. 

It seems to be the nature of Jacob… the deceiver.  For this reason, I think Jacob would likely stick to the more generic statement in the NIV.  Anything more might stir up old memories and animosities.

And then there’s the positive conjunction “and” in the NIV when speaking of the posse of four hundred men accompanying Esau as opposed to the negative conjunction “but” in Peterson’s work.  In this case, I like Peterson’s choice better.  It better reflects the mood of the Scripture passage.

Aside from all this, there is an important lesson to learn here.  Fear causes division.  Ignoring old wounds and allowing them to fester cause division.  The hard work of reconciliation must be done as soon as possible – though it is dangerous.

Waiting only increases the magnitude of loss when the reconciliation is attempted.

Enough mumbling for now…

Peace Out