Scriptures

New Living Translation (NLT)

Genesis 31
⁵⁴ Then Jacob offered a sacrifice to God there on the mountain and invited everyone to a covenant feast. After they had eaten, they spent the night on the mountain.
⁵⁵ Laban got up early the next morning, and he kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then he left and returned home.
Genesis 32
¹ As Jacob started on his way again, angels of God came to meet him.
² When Jacob saw them, he exclaimed, “This is God’s camp!” So he named the place Mahanaim.
³ Then Jacob sent messengers ahead to his brother, Esau, who was living in the region of Seir in the land of Edom.
⁴ He told them, “Give this message to my master Esau: ‘Humble greetings from your servant Jacob. Until now I have been living with Uncle Laban,
⁵ and now I own cattle, donkeys, flocks of sheep and goats, and many servants, both men and women. I have sent these messengers to inform my lord of my coming, hoping that you will be friendly to me.’”
⁶ After delivering the message, the messengers returned to Jacob and reported, “We met your brother, Esau, and he is already on his way to meet you—with an army of 400 men!”
⁷ Jacob was terrified at the news. He divided his household, along with the flocks and herds and camels, into two groups.
⁸ He thought, “If Esau meets one group and attacks it, perhaps the other group can escape.”
⁹ Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my grandfather Abraham, and God of my father, Isaac—O LORD, you told me, ‘Return to your own land and to your relatives.’ And you promised me, ‘I will treat you kindly.’