GENESIS 33
JACOB AND ESAU MEET The tensions increased as Jacob saw a small army of men coming toward him and surrounding Esau. His planning didn’t give him the assurance he needed. His prayer was sincere but unless faith is real when we pray, doubts can still arise and we wonder, “Is God able to deliver me?” Wrestling and the resulting blessing as well as a permanent limp indicating the weakness of the flesh, can have both a positive and negative effect, depending on how we respond to the Lord Himself. The flocks and herds Jacob gave as a gift were all out of sight. Now there was only Jacob’s family and himself before Esau.
There are times in life when in spite of all the preparations we have made and all the efforts we have put forth to accomplish a goal, have done all they can do, that we are left alone as the only defense between those we love dearly, the Lord’s people, and the potential disaster that sin and self-will can bring. It is then reality sets in and trust in God alone is our only hope for a successful outcome of a matter. To be humble and courteous in the face of opposition is a good attitude to have if it is sincere and from the heart.
In fear Jacob bowed low before Esau as he would before a king. Esau, on the other hand, ran to him and embraced him as a brother. God had been at work in Esau as well as Jacob. The relief of reconciliation was genuine on the part of both Jacob and Esau. Perhaps it was time that had healed the wounds of bitterness. It may have been the extravagant gift that softened Esau’s heart a bit. But really, it was God at work in both of them that brought about the final result. The gifts may have been intended at first as a bribe to try to buy reconciliation. Perhaps it was a token of affection from one brother to another in spite of their differences. Or, it may have been some custom in the Middle East at that time that was practiced to clear the way for peace between one tribal group to live near another.
Whatever it was is not really made clear, but we know that when wrongs and made right, or conflicts are settled between brethren, the ultimate outcome is the work of God. Peace-makers are blessed by God. The open and humble attitude of those who want peace, opens the way for the God of peace to let the peace of God rule in our hearts. When that happens, we are truly thankful for the work of God on our behalf.
Jacob was now willing to sacrifice himself for the sake of those he loved, cared for and for whom he was responsible. This is the attitude of one whose heart is knit to those he loves and has been given the role of leadership to be carried out by the principles God has given in His word. When we are actually in crisis times, not merely facing them, we are then given the needed courage, wisdom and common sense to act in an appropriate way, no matter what the opposition may do.
All of Jacob’s fears proved to be unfounded because God had been at work and had blessed Esau with plenty, so he didn’t hold a bitter spirit toward Jacob for what he lost when he sold his birthright. Esau got what he wanted in “the world” of Seir. Jacob got what he had in Padanaram. To a certain extent Jacob gave back what he had taken from Esau, from the bountiful blessings God had given him. Jacob had answers from God to the prayer he had made at Bethel twenty-some years earlier. Then, following in the footsteps of Abraham, he came to Shechem, where he dug a well that the Lord Jesus sat on many generations later and told a thirsty woman of the water of eternal life.
In times of blessing, we may have a tendency to settle down prematurely. To be content in what we have accomplished and not venture farther to where we were in our soul and spirit when God saved us, may make us comfortable in the wrong place. We may find a place to worship God there, and find a degree of fellowship and spiritual activity there, like “building an altar” and giving it a good name. But there is potential danger in stopping short of where God would have us. There was danger in Shechem. Bethel is the house of God! We can worship God wherever we are, but there are limitations when we do not go all the way to the place of separation to God alone.
WHAT HAPPENED TO “ISRAEL?” Even though Jacob’s name was changed to Israel and he was to be “no more called Jacob,” the name Jacob is used afterward almost twice as much as the name Israel. In fact, when we speak of the patriarchs, we speak of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, not Abraham, Isaac and Israel. When a child of God who has been blessed by God, steps backward from that which took place at the place of spiritual privilege, and allows the old way of life to assert itself, that is a cause for great sadness.
When it is the characteristics of our life before salvation that is most evident in a believer, it is a detriment to the testimony of God, the benefit one could be to others, and to our own spiritual well- being. One can lose the blessing of position because of lack of trust in God. We can lose the peace of God that wants to rule in our heart and we can lose power with God and man. Unfaithfulness in the things of God is a serious backward step.
The First backward Step, v.1-11. Even after spending time with God in prayer and being blessed, the obstacles ahead of us in life may not disappear. It is then we are in danger of allowing fear to control our actions rather than faith. When we turn the eyes of our mind toward the difficulties instead of lifting them above the difficulties to God in whom our faith overcomes obstacles, we have taken a step backward. Precautions and groundless fears deprive us of spiritual power and divine fellowship.
The Second Step Backward, v.12-17. When we go backward in faithlessness, deception and lack of openness and truth, take us farther back. Our own insight into the sinfulness of the world becomes dim and we start to think that some things may be questionable but not harmful. Things are okay as long as no one is offended. We have to be tolerant and not judgmental of open sin. Then we may go as far as to say one thing may actually mean another. Instead of following Esau to Seir as he implied, Jacob actually intended to go the opposite direction. Outward profession that is not consistent with our conduct, is unfaithfulness in the servants of God.
The Third Backward Step, v.17. Like Jacob, when we settle down in a place in the world, it is not sinful in itself, but it indicates a self-centered approach to life that does not take into consideration, God’s will or God’s house. When we become prosperous, we are in danger of forgetting the vows of God that are on us.
The Fourth Backward Step, v.18-20. Pilgrim character is easily lost when we content ourselves in a place that is not near to the house of God, nor to the place where God’s people gather to the name of our Lord under His authority. After some time, Jacob moved “in peace” to Shechem which actually belonged to a worldly man of that name. If we “pitch our tent before the city” that is governed by the world system, we have made a statement that we are content there and want to be a part of what goes on there. In such a low spiritual condition of soul, we usually don’t realize the danger of being close to the worldly activities and attitudes around us. It will only be a short time until we really find out how seriously close to trouble we are.
To buy land there to accommodate Jacob’s own desire without considering that God had already promised him the land, was an act of doubt that God would keep His word. Those who are in the world and are of the world, do not accept nor understand the reality of faith. To believers, faith is real, but to act on our own and “build an altar” of our own choosing in the place of our own choosing, does not make it right. Even giving it a religious sounding name of our own choosing, does not make it right either. The sin of being “near the city,” will bring disaster when we try to blend godliness with worldliness. The world always wins.
Spiritual degeneration leads to spiritual tragedy, even after experiences of conversion and consecration. Neglect of obeying the word of God, leads to the loss of spiritual insight, the use of spiritual gifts and any effective spiritual service.
Spiritual stability comes when we are obedient to the Lord, faithful to Him in life and testimony, and we take for ourselves the blessings of grace and divine power that are available to us. Satisfaction, stability and strength will lead us to bring praise and glory to God, and the blessing of joy to a thankful heart.