Genesis Chapter 33

Jacob Reconciles With Esau

33:1-3

Keep in mind that this is a continuation of Chapter 32. Jacob is entering the Promised Land after his incredible encounter with the God of all Creation, which has left him with a permanent injury and pain in his thigh, causing him to limp as he walked. Immediately he sees Esau coming with his 400 men. He organizes the family units according to the mother of each of the children, putting the handmaids first, then Leah, then Rachel; all with each of their children. He lines them up in the order of importance to him, keeping his beloved Rachel and Joseph at the very back. Jacob then walks before all his family bowing himself to the ground seven consecutive times, until he comes near to his brother, Esau. He is now trusting God to protect him and his children, bravely limping before all of them, facing his brother with courage and faith.

33:4

Suddenly Esau runs to meet Jacob, hugging him tightly and kissed him. Then both men wept as they both realized each of them wanted reconciliation with the other! What a wonderful blessing and surprise, as each one realized that they had nothing to fear from the other, but rather, were accepted with love and forgiveness. Both men were obviously overjoyed at their reunion and reconciliation. Our minds are influenced by our thoughts, and when our thoughts are filled with fear, doubt and mistrust, then our expectations are filled with horrible fear and dread, expecting the worst! As we focus our minds and hearts on God, trusting Him for an outcome of good for us, then our expectations will be better aligned with God’s Will of good for us. Do we realize that 95% of our FEARS NEVER come to pass? Why? Because our God LOVES US! Just as He loved Jacob. God plans good for us: Jeremiah 29:11: FOR I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU, DECLARES THE LORD, PLANS TO PROSPER YOU AND NOT HARM YOU, PLANS TO GIVE YOU HOPE AND A FUTURE! Remember, FEAR is FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL. Know and understand that those LIES of Evil all come from Satan! Jacob was beginning to learn and trust God for his future. How about you, are you REALLY Trusting God for your future? See Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and mind, and do not rely on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your path.” and Psalm 5:11: “Let all those who take refuge and put their trust in You rejoice; let them ever sing and shout for joy, because You make a covering over them and defend them; let those who love Your Name be joyful in You and be in good spirits.” Are you trusting God, following Him and then are joyful and in good spirits?

33:5

Now Esau looks up and sees all the women and children and asks Jacob who they all are. Jacob keeps his position of servitude and humbly shares that God had graciously given all of them to Esau’s servant. In speaking this way, he maintains his humble position with his brother, even after realizing that they both sought reconciliation.

33:6-7

No doubt at Jacobs signal, each of the family units comes forward and all respectfully bow humbly before Esau, just as they had seen Jacob do, thereby honoring him. Notice that as the leader of the family showed each of them what they all must do, they all obeyed. This was a wonderful sign that Jacob had taught his wives and children to be obedient and respectful. Jacob had instilled a godly value system into his family unit.

33:8-9

Esau again takes the lead, and asks Jacob what is meant by all the droves of animals that had proceeded Jacob’s family? Jacob says that they are a gift to Esau to find grace in his sight. Esau immediately tells Jacob he already has enough, using the word “rab” which translates much. In reality, Esau had much more than Jacob as he had defeated the Horites and conquered the land of Seir and had all Isaac had accumulated. Thus he really didn’t need anything material from Jacob. What he REALLY needed, was a spiritual connection with his estranged brother, and with God.

33:10-11

Jacob persists quite graciously by insisting that his beloved brother take the gifts if he has found grace in his sight, as just seeing Esau’s face being pleased with him, was as pleasing as if he had seen the face of God. In reality, Jacob had seen the face of God, and he realized that this loving reunion was a miracle from God. Jacob continues to urge Esau to please accept the blessing he has brought to his beloved brother. Jacob tells Esau that he has enough, using the word “kol” which means everything! After much urging, Esau agrees to take Jacob’s gifts. By accepting the gifts, Esau is confirming their covenant of reconciliation and love. In their culture, to accept a gift, meant you were obligated to keep the covenant. To refuse a gift, meant the one attempting to give the gift had everything to fear, as it was a way of rejecting the giver. Jacob knew that his resources were truly inexhaustible, as God was his source. Are you aware that your resources are inexhaustible IF God is your true source?

33:12-14

Esau again attempts to continue the lead and be in control by insisting that Jacob, and all his family and flocks, go with him back to his land of Seir. Jacob realizes that if he returns to Seir, he will be subservient to his brother from now on. So he respectfully addresses Esau as “my lord” and points out that the children are young and tender and need gentle care. In addition, the flocks and herds also have young animals and if driven too hard, even for a single day, they would die. Jacob continues to address Esau as ‘my lord’ and says that he and his family and flocks will slowly follow behind them, setting a slower pace to protect the children and animals, until they come to Seir.

33:15-16

Esau then offers to have some of his men stay behind with Jacob to assist them in making the trip to Seir. Jacob insists that there is no need for Esau to have his men stay behind. He begs Esau to find favor in his eyes for ‘Jacob’. Esau probably needs his men back in Seir; and so he agrees and then begins his journey, with all his men, back to Seir.

33:17

But.. There is that word again, giving us a clue of something different, a change, or a contradiction. In this case we are told that Jacob turns toward Succoth, which is the opposite direction of Seir. Jacob has no intention of living under Esau’s rule. Jacob knows that he cannot share the land of Seir with his brother. Jacob’s commitment to God will not allow him to compromise God’s value system with the worldly system of Esau’s life. Jacob immediately settles down, building himself and his family a home and barns and shelters for his livestock. The name Succoth, means booths, or shelters.

33:18-20

Then, after some time, Jacob moves on and arrives safely and in peace at the town of Schechem, in the land of Canaan. We are told he pitched his tents before the town and bought a piece of land from the sons of Hamor, for a hundred pieces of money. However, we are told that Jacob first built an altar, presumably to honor, praise and thank God for his protection, guidance, direction, wisdom and provisions. The name of the place was called El -elohe-Israel; which means “The God who is the God of Israel”. Jacob intends to keep his commitment to follow God and wants his entire family to do the same, thus the altar was a way to both honor God and witness to his family and servants. We must also make honoring God our first priority. Our lives, our speech, all we do and say, should always honor our Lord, God and Savior. The way we live is our true witness that we are followers of Jesus.