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.
