Doug Van Pelt: 200,000

February 08, 2007

200,000

hmmag.com is now averaging 195,000 unique visits a month. The last two months (December and January) are way over 200,000 a month. This is really good news. A year ago we were averaging 73,000 a month ... and we've almost tripled that in a year. Maybe it's the podcast? Maybe it's Will Farrell? I don't know what it is ... but it's good.

In Genesis 32 Jacob prepares to meet his long lost brother, Esau. On his way, it says "the angels of God met him." This impressed Jacob (as it would anybody). Nothing else is mentioned of this, except that he calls the place Mahanaim. It stands for "two camps," I guess because he camped there and so did God's angels. Shortly thereafter he sends word to Esau's people, telling them that he's Esau's servant, he's been with Laban's people, he's coming back with animals, etc. His people report back that Esau's coming to meet him -- with 400 people in his entourage. Yikes! Jacob splits his group into two camps (interesting detail), so that if one gets slaughtered the other may live.

He prays:

"Oh God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, O Lord, Who said to me, 'Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,' I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness You have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two groups. Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. But you have said, 'I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.'"

It's like he's trying to remind God: "You got me into this mess, telling me to come back, now please help me here!" He also humbly declared that he was unworthy of God's kindness. This is something that is true for all of us. However, the text implies that Jacob really meant it. He felt it. He wasn't just saying the right words. He was probably pretty scared. I'm sure he had his doubts that God would not save him and that he would be killed soon. I don't think he arrogantly or confidently knew that he would make it out of this alive.

[Interrupted by doorbell ringing. A wonderful neighbor dropped by with a birthday cake. How awesome is that?!]

I wonder if Jacob went to bed worrying that night ... or if he felt a peace or sensed God's protection after praying that prayer? Surely seeing the angels camped there earlier must've given him confidence that God was near and watching him. Maybe he felt guilty and thought that God would allow him to die for what he did to Esau. After spending the night there, Jacob put together a little present for his brother -- 200 female goats; 20 male goats; 200 ewes; 20 rams; 30 female camels with their young; 40 cows; 10 bulls; 20 female donkeys; 10 male donkeys. That's quite a little gift! He hoped to pacify Esau with the gifts.