Monday: The Brothers Meet
From Peniel, “the face of God” (see Genesis 32:30), the place where he had this experience with God, Jacob moves now to meet with his brother. After 20 years of separation, Jacob sees him coming with 400 men (Genesis 33:1). Jacob is worried, and therefore prepares himself and his family for whatever might happen.
Read Genesis 33:1-20. What connection is there between Jacob’s experience of seeing the face of God at Peniel and Jacob’s experience of seeing the face of his brother? What is the implication of this connection in regard to our relationship with God and our relationship with our “brothers,” whoever they may be?
Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com
Jacob bows himself seven times before his brother (Genesis 33:3) whom he calls several times “my lord” (Genesis 33:8, Genesis 33:13, Genesis 33:15, NKJV) and identifies himself as his “servant” (Genesis 33:5; compare with Genesis 32:4, Genesis 32:18, Genesis 32:20, NKJV). Significantly, Jacob’s seven bows echo his father’s seven blessings (Genesis 27:27-29); furthermore, when he bows, he specifically reverses his father’s blessing, about “nations [bowing] down to you” (Genesis 27:29, NKJV).
It is as if Jacob’s intention was to pay his debt to his brother and return the blessing that he has stolen from him (see Genesis 33:11). When Esau saw his brother, against all expectations, he ran to Jacob and, instead of killing him, he “kissed him, and they wept” (Genesis 33:4, NKJV).
Later, Jacob commented to Esau: “I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God” (Genesis 33:10, NKJV). The reason for Jacob’s extraordinary statement is his understanding that Esau had forgiven him. The Hebrew verb ratsah, “pleased” (Genesis 33:10, NKJV) is a theological term referring to any sacrifice that is “pleasing,” “accepted” by God, which then implies divine forgiveness (Leviticus 22:27, Amos 5:22).
Jacob’s experience of God’s forgiveness at Peniel, where he saw the face of God, is now repeated in his experience of his brother’s forgiveness, which he identifies as if he saw the face of God. Jacob lives a second Peniel, the first one preparing for the second one. Jacob has been forgiven by God and by his own brother. Truly he now must have understood, even more than before, the meaning of grace.
| What have you learned about grace by how others (besides the Lord) have forgiven you? |
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I have mentioned before that Carmel and I were separated by circumstances during most of our engagement time. Carmel had a teaching position in New Zealand, while I was studying in Australia to complete my degree. We met again after 12 months of separation and 8 days before our wedding. In spite of the fact that we had communicated by letter during that period, meeting Carmel as she came off the plane was really quite scary. Would the chemistry still work?
Jacob and Esau had been separated for a couple of decades, and furthermore had parted under very difficult circumstances. Grudges, hatred and fear had been added to the mix and had time to grow and develop. Further, there was no high-speed internet to do have a facetime session to test the waters. They basically had to meet "cold-turkey". I can understand Jacob's apprehension. Then he heard that Esau was coming with 400 men. That is not just a few children and grandchildren; it is a fighting band that had probably never heard of the Geneva convention.
But, both men had changed. Their hot-head revenge-based behaviour of the past was put aside as both men recognised that they were tenants in the same accommodation for the first 9 months of their lives.
The Bible records Jacob's fear and God's promise to him and it also records Esau's reaction.
I have referred to the Henry Lawson's story, "Shall we gather at the river" before. Here is the ending. I think it fits today's lesson:
Do we need to "gather at the river" to mend broken relationships?
Thank you for sharing, Maurice. After reading your post, I read Henry Lawson's story, "Shall we gather at the river" which I had never heard of before. What a powerful story! It made me reflect deeply about "true religion" and what faith looks like in the flesh. I felt sad that Peter M’Laughlan was a fictional character, but it also challenged me that God is calling us all to be a Peter; to practice a living faith that is able to see God even in the worst of circumstances, and that is able to be his true light in a world full of darkness.
And thank you, Jocelyn, for bringing it up again. So I searched and found the story and read it too. It is a good story, and, yes, it challenges us. Here's a link for others to read it too: “Shall We Gather at the River?” by Henry Lawson, a well-known Australian writer, but someone I had not heard of.
Googled Henry Lawson's story, "Shall we gather at the river". Great read. Vivid and connected to Truth at a deep level.
Thanks.
As much as I receive grace I should also give it!
It is specially difficult to give out grace (or forgiveness) when someone has truly wronged me, but I have to learn how to do that, I have to work on that feeling and turn pain into happiness! Anger into peace! That's a moment when my inner being "fights" with God! Sometimes it may take months, or even years, but I've learnt that the 'quickest' the better!
Exchanging my pain with the pardon that God can (also) give me is the most reasonable thing to do! And the healthiest! Physically, emotionally and spiritually!
We need to remember that a humble spirit under that circumstance (a broken relationship), than an arrogant spirit will be met with the least resistance.
Ellen White provides the following additional commentary which broadens our awareness of the scope of what God was able to orchestrate that night:
It appears God could see that there was potential willingness for restoration in Esau's heart - despite what things looked like at the level of Esau's outward behaviour (1 Samuel 16:7). Perhaps this might give hope to some readers who may fear that some in their family or friends might, to outward appearances, seem to be beyond salvation by the way they are behaving at present.
Good
What kept Jacob from retreating in despair and anguish? I do believe because he had asked for forgivness of his sins prior, and he held on to the heavenly Angel until he obtained the asurence of God's mercy. Genesis 32:28.
Wow, God will do that for us also, when we come to Him without a boastful, presumptuous confidence.
Another amazing miracle took place, his brother Esau had a change of heart towards Jacob, so astounding that only God could have prepared Esau to meet his brother in peace. After all Esau had 400 foot solders with him. I do believe Esau's heart melted and he ran to his brother hugging and kissing him. Genesis 33:4. Possibly his heart was starting to melt when he saw Jacob's pre-meeting gesture. Again, God played a roll in his heart change towards his brother.
What a blessing the Bible and Spirit of Prophecy is. In my life The Spirit of Prophecy does not force the Bible out of use as inferior. Rather it illuminates the Bible reading for me. Many times I will read the Bible verse 1st. The Bible is the authority, but what a blessing The Spirit of Prophecy is in these last hours.
Paul realized the same. 2Corinthians 12:9.
I still have a question about the purpose of lining up the two maidservants and their children and Leah and her children and Rachel and her son Joseph up behind him when he crossed the river to meet Esau. It appears that the conversation recorded in Gen.33:8-11 focuses on the women and their children offered by him as a ‘gift’ – which Esau in the end accepted in some form.
The original breach between the brothers came about because Jacob had usurped his brother Esau's position as the first-born to receive the blessing of leadership responsibilities for his father Isaac’s family tribe; it was now Jacob's - affirmed by the angel of God for him to continue as the head of the family clan and so fulfill the covenant promises of God.
Gen.32:25-28 describes the transfer of God's covenant relationship with Isaac to Jacob – v.28: “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Could it be that Jacob was still not clear about the scope and breadth of the covenant relationship with God which called on him now to take the leadership responsibilities of the clan by ‘establishing the seed which would become a nation?
At the time Jacob met Esau again, I see Jacob wanting to make sure Esau knew that he did not pose a threat to the security of Esau's family-clan and their territory as established by him. I understand Jacob trying to assure and appease his brother by divesting himself of the ‘means’ to establish the offspring having been given to him as a blessing from God – v. 11?
We know, though, in the end, Lea and Rachel, and their children remained with him – Gen.33:12-15.
Forgiveness is the core of the LORD's Plan of Salvation.
The only way the LORD could maintain His government and be merciful to rebellious humans was by being the sacrifice himself.
Rom 3:23-26
For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. 24Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. 25For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, 26for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.