What does Genesis 32:5 mean?
Jacob continues to give his servants the message he wants them to deliver to his twin brother Esau. Though Jacob possesses abundant wealth and the blessing of the firstborn—albeit stolen (Genesis 27:30–35), there are risks involved with this reunion. Jacob doesn't know if Esau still wants to kill him (Genesis 27:41–45), so he is crafting his message to be as deferential as possible. Jacob is not the only person threatened by this situation, since he is now travelling with his wives and children. Jacob's fear over Esau's wrath is echoed in his choice, shown in verse 7, to split his caravan into two separate groups, simply to avoid them being wiped out entirely.In the previous verse, he described himself as Esau's servant, calling Esau "lord." Now he describes his great wealth in livestock and servants. Perhaps he intends to earn Esau's respect. Jacob may be implying he is willing to give to Esau some of the wealth he has built over the last 20 years, in the hopes of finding favor in Esau's sight. Jacob's strategy seems clear: to avoid a violent confrontation with his brother at all costs.
Genesis 32:1–21 describes Jacob's preparations to meet his brother Esau, who is coming his way with 400 men. This will be the first time Jacob and Esau have spoken since Jacob fled Esau's rage as described in Genesis 27. Jacob is terrified this approaching force is coming to kill him. He divides his company into two camps. He prays in humility and faith to God for deliverance. He prepares a large gift of 550 animals to be strategically delivered to Esau to appease his presumed anger.
As Jacob turns from Laban and returns to his own country, he must face another fearful potential conflict. His twin brother Esau is coming with 400 men. Jacob fears this group approaches to take revenge for cheating Esau out of the family blessing 20 years earlier. Jacob is so afraid that he splits his company into two camps, even as he prays for deliverance. He also prepares an enormous gift to appease Esau. Finally, while alone in the dark, Jacob is unexpectedly forced to wrestle a mysterious man, who turns out to be God Himself in some manifested form. In a profound moment of symbolism, God forces Jacob to state his own name, which God then changes to Israel.
