Genesis Part 051
Meeting Esau was a fearsome prospect. Jacob knew his elder brother to be an impetuous man who acted first and thought later. Would his rash nature explode in wrath? Would Esau avenge himself by slaughtering Jacob and all he had? If Esau still entertained thoughts of vengeance, Jacob would attempt to appease him with gifts. Perhaps showing deference and humility before Esau, addressing him as “Lord” and sending him presents, would turn Esau’s wrath away. g
Jacob sent out messengers to respectfully inform Esau of his approach. The messengers returned and told Jacob that Esau was coming—with 400 men! Jacob prepared for the worst by dividing his family and possessions into troops to send out one after the other with himself at the forefront (Genesis 33:3). His hope in this method was to preserve as much of his family as possible should Esau attack. Ahead of them, he sent troops of men bearing gifts, hoping waves of gifts would cool Esau’s hot head. For the moment, however, Jacob remained at the ford of Jabbok.
What happens next at Jabbok is of profound importance for understanding the character development of Jacob. Before examining the details of the story, we will first look at Jacob’s prayer.
In reading the life of Jacob, we have seen him develop from a cultured and physically capable man into a man who learned that real prosperity, security and peace depend upon righteousness before God. This shows incredible growth in character. But by the time Jacob arrives in Jabbok after years of service for Laban’s flocks, he shows even more incredible growth. The prayer in Genesis 33:9-12 shows that Jacob has now come to see that even complete righteousness before God does not entitle one to God’s goodness.
“I am not worthy of the least of all the steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant,” he confesses (verse 10, New Revised Standard Version).
Jacob now sees himself as he truly is—an unworthy man wholly dependent on the mercy and undeserved grace of God. Now, to bring his character to maturity, while Jacob is alone at Jabbok, the strangest wrestling match in history will be played out in the darkness, which we will explore in tomorrow’s lesson.
In the morning, Jacob departed, and after a short journey, he caught sight of Esau advancing with 400 men. Jacob had ordered his family, dividing the children among their mothers, placing the concubines first, followed by Leah, with Rachel trailing the caravan. This was done to provide maximum protection for Rachel (possibly pregnant with Benjamin) and Joseph. For if Esau attacked, perhaps he would grow weary by the time he reached Rachel. Jacob positioned himself at the head of the caravan, alternately walking and prostrating himself as he approached Esau, thereby showing the highest regard and deepest humility.
However, the meeting with Esau was anything but hostile. Esau was genuinely glad to see Jacob. Twenty years had significantly moderated his feelings and, given the size of the fighting force accompanying him, it appears that Esau had achieved a good deal of personal success—enough, at least, for him to feel sufficiently blessed. Jacob presented gifts and introduced his family but wisely begged-off accompanying Esau back to Seir, perhaps anticipating that Esau’s mercurial nature would once again change and he would revert to his former embitterment over the evil Jacob had done to him.
In Genesis 33:4, we can imagine the emotional release from this moment. After 20 years, Jacob is greeted so warmly by his brother, whom he very much feared still hated him. The verse ends saying that “they wept”! What an amazing moment of reconciliation!
After departing from his encounter with Esau, Jacob came to Shechem (verses 18-19). Here, he bought a parcel of land and dug a well. This is apparently the same well at which Jesus Christ met and talked with a Samaritan woman much later. In Christ's time, it is known as Sychar (John 4:5-6) and is near today’s city of Nablus in the West Bank. Jacob (renamed Israel) also built an altar to God here, which he named El Elohe Israel, meaning “God, the God of Israel” (Genesis 33:20). Jacob’s “conversion process” is well underway at this point. No longer does he look upon God as simply the God of His fathers. Rather, he sees God as his God—seeming to indicate that he has developed a personal relationship with Him.
As a side note, Jacob’s life and others in the Bible can make us wonder why we don’t see critical comments from God about men taking multiple wives/concubines in the Bible. God doesn’t always provide these clear comments, He does provide clear instructions in His Word of His intent. There are clear examples where the opposite does not lead to happiness and positive outcomes. In Genesis, God clearly created one wife for Adam, not a whole series of women. It’s also apparent in Paul’s instructions to both Timothy and Titus (younger pastors in the church—see 1 Timothy 3:2, Titus 1:6) that a qualification for an elder was to be a husband of one wife. The clear negative outcomes that come to families like jealousy, animosity, contention, loneliness and family separation are a result. Genesis 33:2 must have been an addition to the long series of very hurtful situations for the concubines and Leah. A very clear order of value and love is demonstrated. God did not design marriage to bring shame and hurt to those involved. This is a clear example again, where man, within their God-given freewill, has chosen a path that is outside God’s intent and design.
UYA Team | uya@ucg.org
United Young Adults (UYA) primarily serves the 18–32-year age group for the United Church of God. There are three main areas of contribution to the lives of the young adults: Promoting Spiritual Growth, Developing Meaningful Relationships, and Making the Most of Your Talents. The Know Your Sword series is a daily expository message introducing God’s Word from a trusted perspective.
