John Calvin Commentary Genesis 32:14

"two hundred she-goats and twenty he-goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams," — Genesis 32:14 (ASV)

Two hundred she-goats. From this we perceive the value which Jacob placed upon the promise given to him, since he is willing to make so great a sacrifice of his property. We know that those things which are obtained with great toil and trouble are the more highly esteemed.

Generally, then, those who are enriched by their own labor are correspondingly frugal and reluctant to part with what they have. It was, however, no small reduction even of great wealth, to give forty cows, thirty camels with their young, twenty bulls, and as many asses with their foals, two hundred she-goats, and as many sheep, with twenty rams, and the same number of he-goats.

But Jacob freely imposes this cost upon himself, so that he might obtain a safe return to his homeland. Certainly, it would not have been difficult to find some nook where he might live with his property intact, and equally suitable dwellings might have been found elsewhere. But, so that he would not lose the benefit of the promise, he purchases, at such a great cost, from his brother, a peaceful dwelling in the land of Canaan.

Therefore should we be ashamed of our lack of resolve and reluctance, we who wickedly turn away from the duty of our calling as soon as any loss must be endured. With a clear and loud voice the Lord commands us to do what He pleases; but some, because they find it troublesome to take up their burdens, remain idle. Pleasures also keep back some; riches or honors impede others. Finally, few follow God, because scarcely one in a hundred is willing to suffer loss.

In putting a space between the messengers and in sending them at different times from each other, he did this to lessen by degrees the fierceness of his brother: From this we infer again, that he was not so overcome by fear that he was unable to manage his affairs prudently.