Genesis 33
Pastor Mark Hudson

Jacob finally meet his brother face to face after 20 years. Jacob knew Esau would not have forgotten what Jacob did to him. The last time they were together, Jacob had heard that Esau was going to kill him. Jacob knew that time heals some things but sometime, especially between family members, time heals nothing at all. Back 20 years ago, recorded in chapter 27, Esau cried out to his father, “Is he not rightly named Jacob? For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold now, he has taken away my blessing” v. 36. Then in v. 41, “Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” But he must have told at least one other person who kindly told Rebekah. That was the last interaction between these two brothers.

There is still favoritism in Jacob’s family. When he meets Esau, who as far as Jacob imagines, Esau might still be bent on revenge. After all, he has 400 men with him. What was he intending to do with those 400 men? Jacob has to think fast. First he send a group of men with gifts for Esau. Jacob sends Esau the following:
200 female goats
20 male goats
200 ewes
20 rams
30 milking camels and their calves
40 cows
10 bulls
20 female donkeys
10 male donkeys (Remember that Jacob left with no servants, little cash, nor did he know where he was going or how he would meet Rebekah’s family. “. . . for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps” (32:10).)

This demonstrates the wealth of Jacob and his generosity fueled by his fear. This accounts is found in 32:13ff, For Jacob thought, “ I may appease him with the present that goes ahead of me, and afterward I shall see his face. Perhaps he will accept me” v. 20. A few days after the gifts, comes Jacob and his family. Jacob is generous but he may think he has to be. All this was done to soften Esau. Jacob is fearful (32:11) and for good reason.

In verse 1, we read, “And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, “Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. He may have seen a big cloud of dust. Jacob has to think fast. So starting with the least important of his family, his entire retinue appears before Esau. The servants with their children are first, “then Leah and her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all.” Jacob though, goes first. He makes every effort to appease Esau. Jacob has orchestrated this entire event. This was well thought-out. Jacob is doing this to keep his family and himself alive. He approaches bowing 7 times before Esau.

By the way Esau responds, maybe Jacob misreads the 400 men or possibly Esau had a change of heart. Whatever the case, Esau hugs and kisses Jacob and they both weep. Esau is watching as Jacob’s entire family arrives. Then Esau asks about all the sheep, goats, camels, cows, and donkeys that met Esau. Jacob tells him that they are a blessing. Esau knows about ‘blessing.’ In fact, on was stolen from him by deceit by Jacob. Now Jacob is giving part of “my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me . . . .” (v. 11) back to Esau. Ironically, God has blessed Jacob and Jacob is sharing a portion of his blessing with the brother he cheated earlier.

Notice that Jacob refers to Esau as ‘my lord’ but Esau calls Jacob ‘my brother.’ They enjoy a happy reunion, and maybe those 400 men were going to escort Jacob back home. We really don’t know. As happy as this reunion is, Jacob has no plans to live near Esau. Even though he says in v. 14, that he will come to Seir, Jacob has no intention to live near Esau. Rather Jacob and family arrive at Succoth and later Shechem. Like Abraham, Jacob buy a plot of land as hope that his people will end up owning all the land of Israel.

The author does not tell us when or how Jacob changes. There are a couple of indicators. One Jacob realizes the promised land is guarded by angels whom he encounters leaving (28:10ff) and entering (32:22ff) the land of Israel. Jacob meets a deceiver that is plagued by the same sin that dogs him all his life. Laban’s treatment of Jacob had to have caused him to reflect on his treatment of Esau. Third, the abundant blessing that God gave Him (30:27, 43; 32:13ff; 35:9ff; etc.) surely helped Jacob realize how gracious God is in the face of his own sin. Fourth, the struggle at Peniel in 32:22ff cannot be overestimated. It seems that Jacob slowly changes but he still struggles with his besetting sins. We share that same struggle. We are growing in grace but still fighting our sinful nature. God is the One who deserves all the praise.

Our dear heavenly Father, we see in Jacob’s life what we experience in the gospel. You are faithful to Your promise and we are unfaithful to You. You bless us in spite of our decisions and lack of faith. In the gospel, You have done it all for Your glory, yet we often fail to allow that glory to upset and change our lives. How we need to be more humble and full of faith. Drench us with Your Holy Spirit so we have the mind of Christ. Let us live for Your honor and Your kingdom. We pray this for advancement of Your eternal Kingdom and the honor of Christ’s name, amen.