Jacob's exodus continues escorted by heavenly hosts. This chapter in the patriarch’s experience continues to feature redemptive patterns reinforcing the Gospel through the life and calling of the covenant son. The back story of conflict with his brother sets the stage for these moments in Jacob's life. Gen 25:22-23 records Jacob and Esau's first fights as twins still in the womb of Rebekah their mother. Gen 25:29-34 records the birthright negotiations where Jacob tricked his older brother to sell his first born privileges for a bowl of lentil stew. Later the fraternal strife escalates further still as Jacob steals the blessing from his father while impersonating Esau in Gen 27. This results in Esau’s anger rising to a murderous boil (27:41) compelling Jacob to flee into exile (28:5) seeking refuge from his brother at the house Laban. Now approaching his long lost brother, Jacob is reassured once again by heavenly vision, consoled by covenant promises, and he names the location to commemorate the Lord's favor. 'Mahanaim' joins 'Galeed/Mizpah' where peace was made with the oppressor Laban (31:48-49), and 'Bethel' (28:17,19,22) where heaven's staircase touched ground with descending angels. The legacy of Jacob's testimony as the patriarchal heir of promise continues. 'Mahanaim' literally means: “two camps” and this moti, or theme, shapes our text today. There is the camp of Jacob and the Lord's camp, the camp of Jacob and Esau's camp, and there is a division of two camps made withing Jacob's numbers as a precaution preparing to meet his brother. Jacob's fear, though understandable, was unnecessary. One commentator insightfully summarized the situation: “As Bethel was the “House of God” and the “Gate of Heaven” (28:17), Mahanaim was “God's camp on earth”. Genesis 32 teaches us that there is no safer place....