Today we begin Genesis Chapter 33.
For the Complete Jewish Bible, click here.
For the King James version, click here.
Jacob looked up and saw Esau approaching with four hundred men.
Jacob divided the children among Leah, Rachel,
and the two women servants.
He put the servants and their children first,
Leah and her children after them,
and Rachel and Joseph last.
-Genesis 33:1-2
Jacob was still concerned about the soon-to-be encounter with Esau.
Although Jacob’s fears had subsided to a certain degree, there was still heated tension in the air.
After all Esau had vowed to end Jacob’s life.
How could Jacob know for sure how Esau would react when the two finally met after twenty long years?
Interestingly, he placed his concubines and their children up in the front and placed his favorite wife and child, Rachel and Joseph, at the rear.
If all hell broke loose, this would at least give the most important people in the family (according to Jacob) a fighting chance to escape.
When the moment of truth arrived, Jacob ran to the front, prostrated himself and bowed seven times.
Reminiscent of the previous post, Jacob completely and utterly surrendered his whole life and being to Esau.
Esau could have had Jacob’s head if he so desired.
There is one point that shouldn’t be overlooked.
At this instant in history, Isaac’s blessing upon his two sons was reversed.
Jacob’s blessing was that he would rule over his brothers.
However, at this particular moment, the opposite had occurred as Jacob had placed himself under Esau’s yoke.
In the next moment, all of Jacob’s fears were vanquished as Esau put his arms around Jacob and warmly embraced him.
What was a tense moment instantly turned into a happy family reunion.
I don’t believe this would have happened had Jacob not undergone the profound character transformation that occurred when he wrestled with God.
The truth is Esau had met a much different man than the Jacob of 20 years ago.
Long gone was the cunning Jacob who had relied on his wits to outdo others.
Esau had instead met Israel, a humble man with a limp who now had a servant’s heart.
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