Daily Bible Challenge: Genesis 33 - Jacob/Israel Meets Esau

Jacob/Israel and Esau Reunion https://biblestudynpt.wordpress.com/2012/09/25/01-genesis-33/

Jacob/Israel comes home to Canaan https://www.casualenglishbible.com/genesis-33/

Possible route of of Jacob's/Israel's caravan from Succoth to Shechem (60 miles/95km.)
https://www.casualenglishbible.com/genesis-33/

Summary https://marksbiblejourney.blogspot.com/2019/10/genesis.html
"As a peace offering, Jacob decides to send Esau a gift of many livestock. Esau forgives Jacob for the things that happened in the past. They greet each other as long lost brothers. The hug each other, give a brotherly kiss, and weep tears of joy. Jacob introduces his family to Esau. After much urging, Esau accepts Jacobs very large gift. After finding favor with Esau, Jacob says that he will follow Esau to his home in Seir. Instead, Jacob goes to Succoth and builds a homestead there for his family and remaining livestock. Then, he goes on to Shechem, buys land from the sons of Hamor, pitches his tent there, and builds an altar to the Lord. He calls the altar El-Elohe-Israel, or God, the God of Israel."

Reading from the Amplified Bible (AMP) version..

"Then Jacob looked up, and saw Esau coming with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two maids. He put the maids and their children in front, Leah and her children after them, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. Then Jacob crossed over [the stream] ahead of them and bowed himself to the ground seven times [bowing and moving forward each time], until he approached his brother." v.1-3

"But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and hugged his neck and kissed him, and they wept [for joy]." v.4

"Esau asked, “What do you mean by all this company which I have met?” And he answered, “[These are] to find favor in the sight of my lord.” But Esau said, “I have plenty, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” Jacob replied, “No, please, if now I have found favor in your sight, then accept my gift [as a blessing] from my hand, for I see your face as if I had seen the face of God, and you have received me favorably. Please accept my blessing (gift) which has been brought to you, for God has dealt graciously with me and I have everything [that I could possibly want].” So Jacob kept urging him and Esau accepted it." v.8-11

"So Esau turned back [toward the south] that day on his way to Seir. But Jacob journeyed [north] to Succoth, and built himself a house and made shelters for his livestock; so the name of the place is Succoth (huts, shelters)." v.16-17

"When Jacob came from Paddan-aram, he arrived safely and in peace at the city of Shechem, in the land of Canaan, and camped in front of the [walled] city. Then he bought the piece of land on which he had pitched his tents from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of money. There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel." v.18-20

My personal observations and reflections...

JACOB/ISRAEL BOWED 7 TIMES. After last night's wrestling with God, it is now time to finally meet Esau. Take note that Jacob/Israel is now limp (or limping). I wonder if his wives asked him about it? But anyway, he arranged his wives and children this way: "the maids and their children in front, Leah and her children after them, and Rachel and Joseph last of all." It seems to me, the arrangement is according to their importance to Jacob/Israel, the last line was Rachel (most loved wife) and the Bible even mentioned the name of Joseph (favorite child). For me, it's a clue or foreshadowing of how Joseph was favored so much by his father, and how he will play out an important role with the rest of the 'Book of Genesis'. With all humility, and I believe reverence to God who has had great mercy towards Jacob/Israel, he approached his brother Esau by bowing himself to the ground 7 times. What a gesture!

* "Some think that his lifting up his eyes denotes his cheerfulness and confidence, in opposition to a dejected countenance; having by prayer committed his case to God, he went on his way, and his countenance was no more sad, 1 Sam. i. 18. Note, Those that have cast their care upon God may look before them with satisfaction and composure of mind, cheerfully expecting the issue, whatever it may be; come what will, nothing can come amiss to him whose heart is fixed, trusting in God. Jacob sets himself upon his watch-tower to see what answer God will give to his prayers, Hab. ii. 1. "https://st-takla.org/bible/commentary/en/ot/matthew-henry/genesis/ch33.html

REUNITED, AFTER 20 YEARS. Wow! Jacob/Israel's fears and anxieties turned into relief, joy, and gladness! Esau wasn't planning to attack after all, but he ran to meet and embraced Jacob/Israel, they hugged and kissed and wept for joy. What an amazing reunion.. I believe that it is God who intervened between these twin brothers, it is God who brought healing, reconciliation and PEACE. God will not allow anger and the works of the enemy to hinder his ultimate plan of salvation through Abraham/Isaac/Jacob's descendants!

God is always in control, just like what it is said in Proverbs 21:1 (NLT):
"The king’s heart is like a stream of water directed by the LORD; he guides it wherever he pleases."

MEET AND GREET, GIFTS. We then read a series of conversations between Jacob/Israel and Esau, and Esau met/saw his sister-in-laws and nephews, niece. Esau and Jacob/Israel did not even talked about the past! The matter was not spoken directly, and it was clear that all is well between the twin brothers. Esau asked what's the meaning of the 3 herds that he encountered before Jacob/Israel-- and Jacob/Israel explained that they are gifts/favor/blessing to Esau for receiving him favorably. Jacob/Israel even said "for I see your face as if I had seen the face of God." Indeed, it was God's mercy and love that moved in their midst. At first, Esau rejected it but "Jacob/Israel kept urging him and Esau accepted it."

* "Who are those with thee? to which common question Jacob returns a serious answer, such as became his character: They are the children which God hath graciously given thy servant. Jacob speaks of his children, 1. As God's gifts; they are a heritage of the Lord, Ps. cxxviii. 3; cxii. 9; cvii. 41. 2. As choice gifts; he hath graciously given them." https://st-takla.org/bible/commentary/en/ot/matthew-henry/genesis/ch33.html
"Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, The fruit of the womb is a reward." Psalm 127:3

LET'S GO TO SEIR/EDOM. Jacob/Israel refuses his brother's offer to escort the caravan back to Esau’s home. According to the Bible Footnotes, "Jacob must have been concerned about traveling through Edom and used this excuse to avoid following Esau to Seir. Indeed, he heads in the opposite direction./Genesis 33:14" God has been clear in His directions to Jacob/Israel about returning to the land of Canaan, so Edom/Seir is not the destination.

However, Jacob/Israel was not truthful with his brother Esau for he said "Please let my lord go on ahead of his servant, and I will move on slowly, governed by the pace of the livestock that are in front of me and according to the endurance of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir [in Edom].” (v.14) I think, Jacob acted out of fear again here-- they just reunited and maybe Jacob/Israel did not want to risk displeasing his brother again? But then again, it is better to be truthful, all the time.

I remembered this verse:
"But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one." Matthew 5:37

Also, this prophecy is yet to be fulfilled: (Genesis 25:23)
"And the Lord said to her:

“Two nations are in your womb,
Two peoples shall be separated from your body;
One people shall be stronger than the other,
And the older shall serve the younger.”

ESAU WENT SOUTH, JACOB WENT NORTH. As if to make sure Jacob/Israel will follow him, Esau even offered to leave some of his men to journey with Jacob/Israel's caravan. But Jacob/Israel also refused it, for he planned to go the other way. The way where God was leading him to go.

El-Elohe-Israel - meaning "God, the mighty God of Israel." After temporarily staying at Succoth, Jacob/Israel finally settled at Shechem wherein he was able to buy a piece of land from the sons of Hamor (the Hivite), Shechem’s father. Just like Abraham, he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel, to honor God.

* Some trivia about Shechem:

"Here Abraham pitched his tent and built his first altar in the Promised Land, and received the first divine promise (Genesis 12:6-7)."

"The name of this city first appears in Genesis 33:18. It was a very old Canaanite city that stood in a strategic narrow sheltered valley between Mount Ebal on the north and Mount Gerizim on the south, these mountains at their base being only some 500 yards apart. It is considered one of the oldest settlements in Canaan. After the Israelite conquest, Shechem belonged to the tribe of Manasseh (Joshua 17:7)." https://christiananswers.net/dictionary/shechem.html