Genesis 33:1-16

Jacob

Jacob and Esau Meet

 

33:2 Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two maidservants.

 

2 He put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear.

 

3 He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.

 

4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.

 

5 Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. "Who are these with you?" he asked.

 

Jacob answered, "They are the children God has graciously given your servant."

 

6 Then the maidservants and their children approached and bowed down.

 

7 Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down. Last of all came Joseph and Rachel, and they too bowed down.

 

8 Esau asked, "What do you mean by all these droves I met?"

 

"To find favor in your eyes, my lord," he said.

 

9 But Esau said, "I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself."

 

10 "No, please!" said Jacob. "If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably.

 

11 Please accept the present that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need." And because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it.

 

12 Then Esau said, "Let us be on our way; I'll accompany you."

 

13 But Jacob said to him, "My lord knows that the children are tender and that I must care for the ewes and cows that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard just one day, all the animals will die.

 

14 So let my lord go on ahead of his servant, while I move along slowly at the pace of the droves before me and that of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir."

 

15 Esau said, "Then let me leave some of my men with you."

 

"But why do that?" Jacob asked. "Just let me find favor in the eyes of my lord."

 

16 So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir.

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This is the Word of the Lord ... It is meant to change the way that we think, and the way that we live.

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Commentary by Bob Pardue

Jacob and Esau Meet Again

Esau gave his brother a great big hug when he met Jacob. The time away from each other began healing these old wounds and each of them found that the love of a brother is thicker than property.

This commentary is very short but very profound in its brevity.

Do you have revenge hidden in your heart for a friend or family member? Ask God to lift that feeling of revenge from you so that you can move on to better things in your life.

God can make you light as a feather if you will only follow what Jesus taught and forgive those who have wronged you.

Forgiveness is not an easy thing to do but just think about how far Christ went in order to forgive us.

Love in Christ

- Bob

Comments are welcome. Please email me with any questions or comments you may have.

Genesis 32:22-32 - Jacob Wrestles with God - In these verses from Genesis Jacob wrestles with God until He blesses him. Jacob becomes Israel because he does not give up. Do we sometimes give up in prayer?