Charles Spurgeon Commentary Genesis 32:17-19

"And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee? then thou shalt say [They are] thy servant Jacob`s; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, he also is behind us. And he commanded also the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him;" — Genesis 32:17-19 (ASV)

And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee? Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob's; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us. And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him.

What care he takes about the whole affair! We cannot blame him, under the circumstances. Yet, how much grander is the quiet, noble demeanor of Abraham, who trusts in God and leaves matters more in His hands! Yet, alas! Even he tried plotting and scheming more than once, but failed every time he did so.