A New Man, But With The Old Memories

Genesis 33:1-20

Jacob had cheated his twin brother out of his blessing and Esau swore to kill him for it. To save his life his parents sent Jacob to his uncle’s house to find a wife. Twenty seven years later Jacob had been afraid to meet Esau, sending everyone else ahead while he stayed on the other side of the brook.

“And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.” (Genesis 33:1-3)

After a night wrestling with the Lord, Jacob was a changed man, no longer bound by fear. He divided up his family according to the love he had for them, but rather than hiding behind them, went before them to meet Esau. He went in a spirit of humility and repentance, aware that Esau had reason to be angry.

“And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.” (Genesis 33:4-5)

Wonder of wonders, Esau was thrilled to see Jacob after so long a time and their reunion was quite emotional. Finally Esau asked to be introduced to Jacob’s family

“Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves. And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.” (Genesis 33:6-7)

Constantly aware of the wrong he’d done his brother, Jacob had assumed Esau was still angry and when he heard Esau was coming with a large force assumed it was with the intent of killing him. Before being confronted by the Lord, he’d sent out various herds to try to distract Esau’s anger. Though he had been really angry, Esau had forgotten his anger long before and had to ask why Jacob sent them.

“And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord. And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.” (Genesis 33:8-9)

Esau was less concerned than Jacob about having more, and while he appreciated the gesture, felt it was unnecessary. He was just glad to have his brother back.

“And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.” (Genesis 33:10-11)

In his relationship with Laban, everything had a price. Nothing was given for free. Jacob had always been a little selfish, but association with Laban had developed the attitude . Jacob’s “present” to Esau had been given from a sense of debt and fear rather than from love. When he sent it out his only concern was with staying alive. In reality, it was a bribe, not a gift. Unfortunately, many people give for the same reason. How many times have you been offered a “free” gift for buying or doing something?

Esau turned down the bribe, saying he had enough. Laban would never have done so. Suddenly Jacob could keep it if he wanted too. When he insisted on giving it to Esau, it was no longer a bribe, but a gift, a demonstration of love and appreciation.

“And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.

And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die. Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.

And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord. So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.” (Genesis 33:12-16)

Even though Jacob was a new man, with a new attitude, he still had the old habits, and the old memories. Esau had forgiven and no longer was troubled by what Jacob had done, but Jacob hadn’t. His sense of guilt kept him from freely accepting Esau’s forgiveness, and prevented a full restoring of the brotherly love they had once had. He refused Esau’s help, and as soon as Esau was out of sight, he went in a different direction. Most people who’ve done wrong find it difficult to accept the forgiveness of others as real, because they are so conscious of and embarrassed by their wrongdoing. They may avoid contact even though others have forgiven them.

“And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city. And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money. And he erected there an altar, and called it Elelohe-Israel.” (Genesis 33:17-20)

Initially Jacob went to Succoth, where he built shelters for his cattle, and a house for himself. Latter he moved to Shechem, an area belonging to the Hittites of descendants of Heth, and bought land from them. It was the same people Abraham bought the cave of Machpelah from for a burial ground.

At Shechem Jacob built and altar and worshipped God again. It is only his third time, but for the first time he does not think of God as the God of Abraham and Isaac, but as his own God. This time he named the place Elelohe-Israel, or “God, the God of Israel.” He was no longer living on his parents relationship to God, but had his own.

While some people who’ve grown up in a Christian home are like Isaac, and develop faith from watching their parents faith, others are like Jacob, only making a decision as to what they believe after severe trials. Some are like Esau, and reject God’s promises, as not worth considering. Each person is accountable for his own choice.