Genesis 33:12-20
2009.May.08 17:00
Good to See You…Bye, Now.
Read Genesis 33:12-20 | Full Chapter
Then Esau said, "Let us take our journey and go, and I will go before you." But he said to him, "My lord knows that the children are frail and that the flocks and herds which are nursing are a care to me. And if they are driven hard one day, all the flocks will die. "Please let my lord pass on before his servant, and I will proceed at my leisure, according to the pace of the cattle that are before me and according to the pace of the children, until I come to my lord at Seir." Esau said, "Please 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."
(Genesis 33:12-15, NASB)
As best I can gather, the main point of this whole passage is that Esau invites Jacob to join him in Seir (Edom, I believe), where Esau has taken up residence and whose later occupants will be oft referred to as descendents of Esau. What I gather is that Jacob has no intention of heading to Seir, south of Canaan, whence he left, to which he is returning.
I guess.
Anyway, there’s this back and forth with Jacob saying Esau should go on and Esau saying they should travel together. This could just be some sort of diplomatic/politeness ritual. Eventually, Esau agrees to hit the road.
So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built for himself a house and made booths for his livestock; therefore the place is named Succoth. Now Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan-aram, and camped before the city. He bought the piece of land where he had pitched his tent from the hand of the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, for one hundred pieces of money. Then he erected there an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.
(Genesis 33:16-20, NASB)
So, Jacob has survived, perhaps to his surprise, encounters with both Laban and Esau. And life is good. He’s returned to Canaan and for maybe the first time in his life isn’t at odds with anyone. He’s not perhaps “settled”, but he could certainly be very comfortable at this point. What a journey!
Now, we’re going to start seeing his kids more, especially his sons, the at least nominal patriarchs of the tribes of Israel. And we’ll also get to see what’s not apparent at this moment of relative ease, how Jacob’s playing favorites and allowing the growth of jealousies within his family has affected those children and their future. Ultimately, Yahweh’s going to jump in and work out a lot of this stuff, but the road is going to be much more painful than is immediately apparent at this point.
Genesis 33:8-11
2009.May.01 17:00
Take My Herds… Please…
Read Genesis 33:8-11 | Full Chapter
Esau asked Jacob, "What did you mean by these herds I met along the road?" "Master," Jacob answered, "I sent them so that you would be friendly to me." "But, brother, I already have plenty," Esau replied. "Keep them for yourself." "No!" Jacob said. "Please accept these gifts as a sign of your friendship for me. When you welcomed me and I saw your face, it was like seeing the face of God. Please accept these gifts I brought to you. God has been good to me, and I have everything I need." Jacob kept insisting until Esau accepted the gifts.
(Genesis 33:8-11, CEV)
Perhaps, after I do my big character study on Lot, I’ll do a study on Esau as a type of Christ (Note the implied perhaps on the subordinate class as well). Try this on for size:
When I looked at you, Jesus, and saw the scars that evidenced your sacrifice for me, I looked into the face of Yahweh, and am reminded again of all the things he has done for me. I accept your mercy and the new life you’ve given me. Here, let me give you something in exchange. What? You mean it’s free? No, no, you must take this. And this! C’mon!
Or, one might take the illustration in a different direction and use it to discuss giving to those and need and to support the work of the Church. But, I want to discuss the first one, the need to feel we’re giving something to make us at least partially worthy of the grace we’ve received. In Ephesians, Paul writes:
He did this that He might clearly demonstrate through the ages to come the immeasurable (limitless, surpassing) riches of His free grace (His unmerited favor) in [His] kindness and goodness of heart toward us in Christ Jesus. For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law's demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]
While James points out that "Faith that doesn't lead us to do good deeds is all alone and dead!" (James 2:17, CEV) , it is just as essential to remember that works can never make us worthy of Yahweh’s grace. The question is not one of whether our works are enough, but whether we have faith enough and rejoice in our salvation enough that good works in return are inevitable, whether they come flowing forth.
Had Jacob decided not to bother with the offering the gift to Esau, it would have revealed insincerity in his gratefulness. If I do not perform righteous works, it would reveal to me that own faith is not real. Indeed, every failure on my own part to live up to Yahweh’s desires for me and standards are not marks of condemnation (now that I have received salvation through Christ), but rather reminders of my need for Yahweh’s grace, of the need for faith.
But there’s a point of going too far, of seeking salvation in my works rather than through grace/faith. It’s not clear what Jacob’s motivations are as he persists in offering his gift. Is he just so grateful? Is this just a normal diplomatic act? Or does he still not believe that Esau has really forgiven him?
If I am obsessing over my works, it begs the question of how strong is my faith.
Genesis 33:1-7
2009.Apr.24 17:00
Surprise!
Read Genesis 33:1-7 | Full Chapter
Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming, and with him were four hundred men. So Jacob divided his children among Leah, Rachel, and the two slave girls. Jacob put the slave girls with their children first, then Leah and her children behind them, and Rachel and Joseph last. Jacob himself went out in front of them and bowed down flat on the ground seven times as he was walking toward his brother.
(Genesis 33:1-3, NCV)
Before I start, I’d like to mention that I believe this is one of the first times I’ve quoted the New Century Version. It’s one of the easy-to-read versions. Since I don’t read it much, I can’t say if this next comment is generally applicable. But. “Slave girls”? WTF? Congratulations, you are at least old enough to have had multiple children, nevertheless, we question your adulthood. The phrasing in general seems demeaning to no purpose.
Anyway.
Okay, so we’ve spent the last chapter alternately dreading this moment and being reassured with the peace of God. Now Jacob looks up to see his brother Esau. I’m imagining the scene in Tombstone when Wyatt and company are walking towards the O K Corral. Esau being in the role of the heroes. Jacob, newly renamed Israel, is the the man at the end of the line, scared perhaps but sure he has to go through with whatever’s about to happen.
Yes, FromGenesis melodrama. Thanks, I’ll be here all week.
Anyway, Jacob makes yet another division, this time of his wives and children. In doing so, he clearly demonstrates the order in which he values the members of his family. Rachel and Joseph are still his favorites, all the scheming of the past years having accomplished exactly jack sh–. And, okay, it’s worth breaking out of the narrative a moment to make a few extra comments on this point, or at least some possible interpretations:
Our schemes and plans often have surprisingly little effect. Certainly compared to what just walking in faith and obedience can bring.
It may be no accident that Israel extends his favor based not on “works” (in this case quantity and order of male offspring) but on his prior choice.
Despite all this, Jacob is quite helpless to protect any of these women or children. He must, to once again mention faith, rely solely on the grace and favor of his God.
Jacob, in a rare moment of (more or less) impressing me, finally gets his a– in front of somebody. If Esau is to avenge the loss of his birthright, Jacob will be confronted before his wives, concubines and kids.
But Esau ran to meet Jacob and put his arms around him and hugged him. Then Esau kissed him, and they both cried.
(Genesis 33:4, NCV)
Wait! What? Um, where are the blood and guts here? Esau is just happy to meet his brother? The guy who kept cheating him?
Well, he is.
What were the years like for Esau? As we’ll find out shortly, he’s had a great deal of material success as well. But just because he’s doing okay does not imply he would have forgiven Jacob. Why he does so is probably impossible to say, except that I am confident Yahweh had a role.
It’s useful to remember that while Yahweh is accomplishing his works in my life, he’s not resting in the lives of others. To abuse the tunneling through a mountain analogy, my three feet in isn’t quite so futile when there’s millions others digging from other directions (What exactly is our apparent purpose is making an inverse funnel cake of this proverbial mountain?). Which is not to imply that I shouldn’t be moving forward in my own life as much as possible. Just that Yahweh’s work is not exclusive to me, but rather his work in me is also a part of his work in all believers, indeed in all humanity.
When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, "Who are these people with you?" Jacob answered, "These are the children God has given me. God has been good to me, your servant." Then the two slave girls and their children came up to Esau and bowed down flat on the earth before him. Leah and her children also came up to Esau and also bowed down flat on the earth. Last of all, Joseph and Rachel came up to Esau, and they, too, bowed down flat before him.
(Genesis 33:5-7, NCV)
I don’t have much comment to make here. All the family approach Esau and bow to him, introduced by Jacob. There’s a family-wide display of humility and that’s a good thing. Although, one can clearly imagine where some of the issues between Joseph and his older brothers originated.
