Read Genesis 33:1-20
Brothers
at peace….at last
Update: chronology of events from Ch. 32
·
1-2 Jacob encounters God’s angelic host
·
3-6 Jacob is informed of Esau’s presence
·
6-8 Jacob, in distress, lays out a plan to
meet his brother
·
9-12 Jacob’s prayer of humility and
deliverance
·
13-23 he meets Esau for the first time in
well over 20 years
·
24-32 Jacob wrestles with an angel and has a
divine name change
i) Jacob
(Heb. supplanter, schemer, trickster, swindler) [suggests our position in our
fallen nature as enemies of God].
ii) Israel
(Heb. contender with God) [the name change is indicative of the new believer’s
status with the Living God for our inner man is changed day by day into the
image of God].
Jacob’s prayer Ch. 32:9-12
·
Jacob’s address: O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac.
·
Petition: Jacob’s prayer begins by calling upon the God
of Abraham and rehearsing God’s directives return
to thy country and promise I will
deal with thee well. It is a good thing to begin calling on the Living God
in times of trouble instead of out flesh. It is far better to learn to call
upon Him when times are good that our faith might flourish before tough times.
·
Humility: Jacob’s humility is seen by his
declaration of unworthiness of even the
least of God’s mercies and truths
·
Call for deliverance: his humility leads to
the request for deliverance.
·
God’s goodness: Jacob repeats God’s promises.
As mentioned in the last lesson forgiveness is an
essential part of our lives and also a major doctrine of Scripture both Old and
New Testaments.
As you
recall from Ch. 32 Jacob expends an enormous amount of time, thought, and
energy planning his inevitable encounter with his brother Esau which included
his prayer to the Almighty God of Abraham and Isaac. That prayer was in fact
asking God to direct his steps, a necessary element no matter the situation
we’re facing. The direct result of that prayer becomes reality in the chapter
we find ourselves in the midst of in this important lesson.
The encounter 33:1-20
Jacob
has endured much in the past 20 plus years, now faced with the imminent
encounter with his brother Esau who years before vowed vengeance upon him [Gen. 27:41-45] for tricking him out of both
the birthright and the blessing, humbled himself before his God, and sought
divine protection, which demonstrated a sincere change of heart. He devised a
plan to appease Esau’s wrath…but God…intervened! The intervention was not happen stance or
coincidence rather it was the direct result of Jacob’s repentant heart toward
his brother Esau.
At last Jacob has his brother within eyesight and sets
his plan into action by dividing his family and goods sending them before for
the purpose of appeasing his brother.
4 The brothers embrace
This is indeed an emotional
scene to see two estranged brothers weep and embrace. It is indicative of what
God can and will do for those with a broken heart. To be brokenhearted means
much more than grieving over the loss of a loved one; for it also means a
broken or repentant heart. No matter what we’ve done or been through God is the
God of grace and favor.
God had
heard Jacob’s prayer and touched the heart of Esau. That, my friends is what
God will do for you and I if we confess, repent and humble ourselves. Our God
has the same requirements for salvation. It flies in the face of human nature;
but our nature is flawed, fallen, distorted by sin.
Righteousness: man’s vs. God’s
Isaiah
64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing,
and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf;
and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Romans 3:10 As it
is written, There is none righteous, no not one.
Mark 10:18 And
Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good [essentially and perfectly
moral]? There is none good [essentially,
and perfectly moral], but one, that is,
God.
Here we encounter an age old dispute in regards to some
men being “righteous” because they at least “appear” to be essentially perfect
and morally pure. However, though they appear so on the outside yet God sees
the heart and reigns or guiding factors of our actions. Ps.7:9…for the righteous God trieth the hearts and
reins; Jer.11:20 But, O Lord of
hosts, that judgest righteously, that triest the reins and the heart…; Rev.2:23…and all the churches shall know that I am he
which searcheth the reins and heart. Furthermore, God sees past our
immediate behavior and determines it is because of our sin nature, that is, our
fallen nature is the ultimate cause of unrighteousness, not a single or
collective evil deed. In short our actions and very thoughts are on display before our God day
and night. Oh, we may devise numerous
schemes to mask our evil ways, but in the end it is He which knows our hearts
and thoughts; as Christians to purge us from evil and present us spotless at
the great wedding feast. To the unbeliever
to convict them of sin and call them to repentance.
Faith
Building Practice and Review
1. Review
chapter 32 and understand the chronology of events.
2. Review
Jacob’s prayer ch.32:9-12.
3. What
stands out to you in his prayer?
4. Do
your prayers mirror that of Jacob’s?
5. Why
or why not?
6. Review
the ultimate meeting of the two brothers.
7. Do
you see the hand of God in the situation?
8. Do
you see God’s answer to Jacob’s prayer?
9. He
will do the same for you and I time and time again.
Knowing
God
A brief [not complete, add
to the list] synopsis of the persona of God:
·
Love
·
Gracious
·
Merciful
·
Righteous
·
Longsuffering
·
Gentle
·
Faithful
·
Compassionate
·
Forgiving
·
Friend
The ultimate goal of Bible study is to
know God and not to merely memorize Bible trivia. As you study the lesson,
identify the attributes of God. For instance: make a note when you read of God
extending His forgiveness or compassion, and remember how He has done the same
for you.
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