Genesis 32:22- 33:20
Ending the family feud
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Blaise Pascal was a brilliant philosopher and a Mathematician. He lived in 17th century France in ran in the elite intellectual circles of Paris. He traveled around Paris giving lectures in Mathematics and Philosophy. He is described by some as the “Lion of scientific circles in Paris” in his day.
In the peek of his career he had an experience with God that changed everything. After he died someone discovered his account of this experience sownto the inside of his favorite shirt. Here is how he describes his experience it is somewhat stream of conscience-
“This day of Grace 1654; From about half past ten at night, to about half after midnight, Fire. Fire, God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob, not of the philosophers and the wise. Security, security. Feeling, Joy, peace. God of Jesus Christ thy God shall be my God… O righteous Father, the world hath not known thee, but I have known thee. Joy, Joy, joy, tears of joy.” He gushes like this for several paragraphs.
When Pascal had this experience with the triune God his life was forever changed. Right after this experience he retired from the elite intellectual circles of Paris and gave his life to a small religious community known as theJansenists. There he wrote classic works of theology and devotion that are still read today.
Blaise Pascal was forever changed by his encounter with the living God. This brings us to Genesis 32-33 this morning.
Jacob was forever changed by his encounter with God.
Do you remember what happened in last week’s story? Jacob is a proud self-sufficient man until God reaches out and literally grabs him. After hours of wrestling with God, God breaks Jacob physically and spiritually. Then he changes his name. This encounter with God has a transforming effect on Jacob.
Would you like to change? Change often seems elusive, especially lasting change. How do we change? Jacob does not change until he encounters the living God. You and I will not change until we encounter the living God.
But has Jacob really changed? We will look at four things to prove that Jacob has changed because of his encounter with the living God.
First, Jacob’s humility proves he has changed.
How does Jacob humble himself? He walks in front of his family!
Genesis 33:1–3 (ESV) — 1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. (The narrator has not lifted the suspense) So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants. 2 And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. 3 He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
Jacob arranges his family in order with his favorites towards the back. This arrangement was more thank likely the protocol for formally presenting his family to Esau. Unfortunately Jacob still struggles with favoritism which will come back to haunt him later.
But something has changed in Jacob. The day before he sent out his crew in front of him and he walked in the back (32:16,18, 20, 21). This was probably an act of self-preservation. All he seemed to care about was his own skin.
But now Jacob leads his family. He walks out in front and meets Esau first. He is ready to protect his family and die first. He walks with a limp but his limp does not keep him from putting his family’s safety ahead of his own. Now that he has encountered God he does not fear dying.
How else does Jacob humble himself? He bows low!
Genesis 33:3 (ESV) — 3 He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
Esau was more than likely the king of Edom and bowing seven times was the way one showed proper respect to men in authority in this culture. The term bowed down indicates touching ones nose and forehead to the ground. This was more than likely painful for Jacob since his hip was dislocated.
Lets go back in time 20 years and listen to the blessing that Jacob stole from his brother.
Genesis 27:29 (ESV) — 29 Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”
Jacob was supposed to bow to Esau. Jacob was the youngest son. By bowing to his brother now, 20 years later, he is trying to undo the sin that he committed so many years ago. He is undoing his great act of trickery where he stole his brother’s blessing. Jacob is humbles himself before his brother and God.
Jacob humbles himself by walking in front of his family and by bowing to his brother.
How else does Jacob humble himself? In his speech!
When we listen to Jacob’s speech in this story we see him crediting God for his children (5), for sparing his life (10), and for his property (11).
Furthermore, while speaking to Esau, Jacob calls Esau his lord several times (5, 8, 13, 14, 15)
Jacob’s speech indicates that he is a grateful and humble man.
Application:
Most theologians argue that humility is the chief virtue. Out of humility flow all the other virtues. If someone has truly encountered the living God they will grow in humility.
Although Jacob is not a perfect man he seems to be a humbler man. His humility proves that he is a changed man.
Second, Jacob’s restitution proves he has changed.
Genesis 33:8–11 (ESV) — 8 Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company that I met?” Jacob answered, “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 Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me. 11 Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Thus he urged him, and he took it.
It is no coincidence that Jacob uses the word Blessing in verse 11. Notice he says please accept my blessing. This is the exact same word used in Genesis 27:35-36 when Jacob steals Esau’s blessing 20 years earlier. Jacob is trying to perform restitution by paying Esau back with over 500 cattle, sheep, and goats. God has blessed Jacob and he wants to pay Esau back what he stole.
How does Esau respond? In the ANE it was proper etiquette to say no to a gift at first even though you planned on saying yes a few minutes later. This is what Esau does. He says no and then Jacob urges him, using very strong language in the Hebrew, and Esau takes the gift. After Esau receives the gift he offers nothing to Jacob in return indicating that he sees the gift as payment for the wrong done to him.
Jacob’s strong language, “urging him”, meant that Jacob was serious about making things right with his brother.
Esau’s 400 men and Jacob’s family witness this act of restitution, making it official. Now everyone knows that these brothers have mended their ways.
Biblical restitution has been performed.
Illustration:
Chad Phillips & Bates pharmacy
Application:
Biblical repentance is more than saying sorry it often involves restitution. Making right what was wrong. God forgives but restitution is often required. Is there someone you need to do in order to make things right with someone?
Jacob’s act of restitution proves that he is a changed man.
Third, Jacob’s trust in God proves he has changed.
In other words Jacob finally trusts God to take care of him.
Genesis 33:12–17 (ESV) — 12 Then Esau said, “Let us journey on our way, and I will go ahead of you.” 13 But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and that the nursing flocks and herds are a care to me. If they are driven hard for one day, all the flocks will die. 14 Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will lead on slowly, at the pace of the livestock that are ahead of me and at the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.” 15 So Esau said, “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.” 16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17 But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
Before we talk about Jacob’s faith in verse 15 there are a few things we need to say about this passage.
Esau invites Jacob to come to Seir. Jacob says ok and then he goes to Succoth instead. Furthermore, he refuses the aid of Esau’s soldiers.
Why does Jacob refuse to go to Seir? There are a few possible motives. Maybe he does not trust Esau? It takes a deceiver to know a deceiver. Maybe Jacob has theological reasons for not going to Seir? Seir, afterall, is not part of the promise land (28:15). Furthermore, Esau is not part of God’s chosen people (31:55-32:1). We don’t really know for sure why Jacob refuses to go to Seir. Maybe he thought he could find better land for his flocks in Succoth.
But does Jacob deceive his brother by saying that he will go to Seir even though he goes to Succoth?
We can’t say for sure because the text does not tell us. Plus in Genesis 31:20, which was a similar situation, the narrator specifically says that Jacob deceived Laban. In this text the narrator does not make that point. It could be that Jacob planned on going to Seir but changed his mind.
He may not have deceived his brother but then again he may have. He is a man who is being changed by God and some times old habits die slowly.
Verse 15 is the key passage. This passage indicates that Jacob finally trust God to protect him.
Genesis 33:15 (ESV) — 15 So Esau said, “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.”
It appears as though Jacob finally, really, and truly believes God’s promises. Remember what God promised Jacob?
Genesis 31:3 (ESV) — 3 Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”
Since God is with Jacob he has nothing to fear. He has always known this, but after his encounter with God the night, before he finally believes it. He is now a man of faith. Faith and Fear are mutually exclusive. If God is with us what can man do to us? Jacob knows God is with him because God dislocated his hip the night before, forcing Jacob to trust God for protection and provision.
Jacob’s trust in God proves that he is a changed man.
Fourth, Jacob’s worship proves he is a changed man.
How does Jacob worship? By erecting an altar!
Genesis 33:18–20 (ESV) —18 And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city. 19 And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, he bought for a hundred pieces of money the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent. 20 There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.
Jacob is finally in the land of Canaan, thePromised Land. When he was in the Promised Land 20 years earlier God promised to bring him back. God always fulfills his promises. Which is why God brought him back to the land of his Father Abraham.
God promise this land to Jacob 20 years earlier in Genesis 28:13-14. When God made this promises Jacob had recently fled his homeland for his life. He falls asleep in the land of Bethel and God appears to him.
Genesis 28:13–15 (ESV) — 13 And behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of Abraham your father and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will give to you and to your offspring. 14 Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land. For I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”
Why does God bring Jacob back to the land, thus fulfilling his promises? Was it because Jacob was worthy? Was it because Jacob worked hard? Was it because Jacob was faithful???? No to all of the above!!!
Why does God fulfill his promise to Jacob? God loves to bless sinful, broken, unbelieving sinners. This is one of the main themes of the book of Genesis. We see God blessing Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, over and over again. These three men are very unworthy of God’s grace. We are very unworthy of God’s grace.
When God brings Jacob back to the land Jacob finally realizes that God is worthy of is worship. This explains why he builds and altar to worship God, which communicates his commitment to worship and obey the God of his fathers. He names the alter “El-Elohe-Israel” which means God is the God of Israel. In other words, God is my God and he has provided for me by fulfilling his promises. Now I will worship him with my life.
Is God your God? do you worship him alone?
Jacob worships God proving that God has changed him.
We have looked at Jacob’s humility, restitution, faith, and worship proving that Jacob was changed by his encounter with God.
Hereare some application questions-
Do you want to change? Of course! We all want to change. If we could honestly say that there was nothing we wanted to change about ourselves I think we would be lying. What do you want to change?
Do you have a hard time controlling your temper?
Your fears?
Your pride?
Your tendency to defend yourself?
Are you unmotivated to read the Bible and pray?
Do you have a hard time getting up in the morning to read your Bible?
Do walk around feeling condemned?
Do you have an addiction that you can kill?
Do you get more excited about watching the Seahawks on Sunday than going to church?
We all have something we want to change about ourselves. There is hope! God wants to help us change!!!
Do you want to change?
How do we typically try to change ourselves? It is usually a combination of self-sufficiency and wishful thinking. If we succeed in changing ourselves it will probably be short lived and it will probably lead to pride and self-righteousness.
I’m just going to be more disciplined
Get up earlier
Go to church more!
Stop saying stupid hurtful things
I’m going to will my way to change!!!
How do we really change? Real lasting change only comes about through an encounter with God!
Jacob was proud self-sufficient man until he had an encounter with the living God.
Have you had an encounter with the living God?
Jacob encountered God in a wrestling match on the borders of the promise land. We encounter God in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
When Jacob encountered God, God broke him. He dislocated his hip breaking him physically and spiritually. God forced Jacob to depend on him.
When we encounter God in the cross he breaks us! In he cross we learn that we are sinful, needy, broken people who walk with a significant spiritual limp. The cross tells us that we are weak sinful people that can’t save ourselves. The cross tells us that our sins are so bad the Son of God must die for us to be forgiven. Plus the cross tells us that our sins are so bad that we could never save ourselves. Only the Son of God can save us by dying and rising from the dead.
God changes Jacob’s and then gives him a new name thus a new identity. When we embrace what Christ did on the cross God changes our name and gives us a new identity. He calls us his son and daughters of God.
Have you encountered God at the cross? I’m not asking if you believe that Jesus lived, died, and rose again for sinners. There is a big difference. Have you come to a place of brokenness before God? Have you encountered the risen Christ? Is he changing you? The first sign of a true encounter with God is a changed life. Is God changing your life?