Last time, we concluded with these verses as Jacob wrestles with God’s representative.
He wrestles with God, or with God’s angel
(Gen 32:24) Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. {25} Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob's hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. {26} And He said, "Let Me go, for the day breaks." But he said, "I will not let You go unless You bless me!" {27} So He said to him, "What is your name?" He said, "Jacob." {28} And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed." {29} Then Jacob asked, saying, "Tell me Your name, I pray." And He said, "Why is it that you ask about My name?" And He blessed him there. {30} And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: "For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved."
What a dramatic moment in the history of man:
God’s representative, in the form of a man, wrestles with Jacob. It’s not a vision, or a dream, it is a real encounter as evidenced by the fact that he was injured.
(Gen 32:31) Just as he crossed over Penuel the sun rose on him, and he limped on his hip. {32} Therefore to this day the children of Israel do not eat the muscle that shrank, which is on the hip socket, because He touched the socket of Jacob's hip in the muscle that shrank.
A great chapter closes: Jacob has wrestled with God’s representative.
Next: Jacob face to face with Esau!
As we continue our study with Genesis 33:
(Gen 33 NKJV) Now Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and there, Esau was coming, and with him were four hundred men.”
Not exactly a comfortable feeling. In the middle of nowhere, Jacob meets his brother who had threatened to kill him, and now here he is with an army of 400 men, so what he had said he would do, he could now easily accomplish.
(Gen 33:1b) So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants. {2} And he put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children behind, and Rachel and Joseph last. {3} Then he crossed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
The order of importance is very clear: What is in front is of the least value to him. What is at the rear is what is of greatest value: Rachel and Joseph. To complete the picture: “Then he crossed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.” Don’t forget the preparation that has already been made by Jacob:
(Gen 32:16) Then he delivered them to the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, "Pass over before me, and put some distance between successive droves." {17} And he commanded the first one, saying, "When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, saying, 'To whom do you belong, and where are you going? Whose are these in front of you?' {18} "then you shall say, 'They are your servant Jacob's. It is a present sent to my lord Esau; and behold, he also is behind us.'"
The importance of what is to be said:
'They are your servant Jacob's –
Very humble of Jacob
It is a present – That’s being gracious
sent to my lord Esau; Very respectful
and behold, he also is behind us -- He’s coming!
He isn’t avoiding you or running! He’s coming!
Each group gets the same instructions:
And Jacob has been in prayer – virtually wrestled with God: (Gen 32:28 NKJV) And He said, "Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
And now the final approach: He’s done everything he could, and asked God to help him.
Now the meeting:
(Gen 33:3) Then he crossed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
And it worked!!!
(33:4) But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
and they wept. Three words, but they speak volumes.
Tears of joy? Yes
Tears of relief Yes,
But tears are tears!
There are thoughts, and reflections, and many regrets!
They’ve been angry and frustrated,
and hurt for 20 years! That’s a long time!
Could the 20 years have been avoided?
The questions! The reflections!
The losses that can never be regained!
“How’s mom doing?”
“Mom’s dead.”
Why couldn’t this have happened sooner?
Then . . .
(Gen 33:5) And he lifted his eyes and saw the women and children, and said, "Who are these with you?" So he said, "The children whom God has graciously given your servant." {6} Then the maidservants came near, they and their children, and bowed down. {7} And Leah also came near with her children, and they bowed down. Afterward Joseph and Rachel came near, and they bowed down.
So the greetings and the meeting have taken place!
Now let’s talk about the presents!
(Gen 33:8) Then Esau said, "What do you mean by all this company which I met?" And he said, "These are to find favor in the sight of my lord." {9} But Esau said, "I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself." {10} And Jacob said, "No, please, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me. {11} "Please, take my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough." So he urged him, and he took it.
What is the meaning of this conversation?
“. . . inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God,”
He had seen “the face of God” in the sense that by the grace of God, he saw Esau’s face and Esau accepted him instead of killing him.
What is going on with the “arguing” over the gift that Jacob had sent?
And Jacob said, "No, please, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand,”
I offer Adam Clarke’s explanation:
“Receive my present at my hand” - Jacob could not be certain that he had found favor with Esau, unless the present had been received; for in accepting it Esau necessarily became his friend, according to the custom of those times, and in that country.
In the eastern countries, if your present be received by your superior, you may rely on his friendship; if it be not received, you have every thing to fear. It is on this ground that Jacob was so urgent with Esau to receive his present, because he knew that after this he must treat him as a friend.”
(Gen 33:12) Then Esau said, "Let us take our journey; let us go, and I will go before you."
This is evidently Esau’s offer as a way of making up. He wants “by gones” to be “by gones,” and we wants to be an escort to protect Jacob and his family.
(Gen 33:13) But Jacob said to him, "My lord knows that the children are weak, and the flocks and herds which are nursing are with me. And if the men should drive them hard one day, all the flock will die.
(Gen 33:14) "Please let my lord go on ahead before his servant. I will lead on slowly at a pace which the livestock that go before me, and the children, are able to endure, until I come to my lord in Seir."
This appears to be just a simple honest, “Thanks, but no thanks.” I appreciate it, but I think it might create problems rather than solve them. So Esau offers an alternative way to help.
(Gen 33:15) And Esau said, "Now let me leave with you some of the people who are with me." But he said, "What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord."
Jacob just graciously declines the offer. "What need is there?” In other words, I don’t really need it, and it only makes things more complicated.
(Gen 33:16) “So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.” – So Esau just went home. All ends well!
(Gen 33:17) And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, built himself a house, and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
In other words, he settles here for a time.
(Gen 33:18) Then Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan Aram; and he pitched his tent before the city. {19} And he bought the parcel of land, where he had pitched his tent, from the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for one hundred pieces of money.
“pieces of money” is a little vague. Some have suggested that these pieces of money may have been equal to the value of a lamb.
(Gen 33:20) Then he erected an altar there and called it El Elohe Israel.
(Gen 33:20 NCV) He built an altar there and named it after God, the God of Israel.
(Gen 28:20-22 NKJV) Then Jacob made a vow, saying, "If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, {21} "so that I come back to my father's house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God. {22} "And this stone which I have set as a pillar shall be God's house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You."