Gen. 33:1-16
“AND JACOB lifted up his eyes, and looked and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men.” The sight of Esau with his 400 men coming toward him was frightening to Jacob. Fearful that his brother would do him harm, he put those he cared for the least, the women servants and their children, in the forefront; after them Leah with her children; and those of his special love, Rachel and Joseph, in the background for utmost safety.
“And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.” v. 3. Could this be the man who had just been favored by God with a new name — “a prince with God"? Surely it was no princely behavior to make obeisance to his brother, bowing thus before him and addressing him as “lord.” Alas, the one who was the special mark of God’s favor and promises of security and safety, could not yet put his full trust in those promises. In apparent total forgetfulness of his prayer to God, he arranged means to forestall the wrath he expected from his brother. How much better would have been his course and what freedom from fear and uncertainty would have been his portion if he had truly acquainted himself with God. His Word tells us: “Acquaint now thyself with Him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.” Job 22:21.
Jacob soon saw that his fears were groundless — all his planning unnecessary and his gifts and humble expressions out of place. “And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.” v. 4. Esau ran to meet him, not with a sword, but with a kiss. In place of reproof, tears of joy flowed freely from both, if only Jacob’s own heart had been prepared for this how ready he would have been to give thanks is the God who thus worked in his behalf.
In Jacob’s long absence Esau had acquired considerable wealth and is this prosperity was apparently content to forget about the birthright and the blessing taken by his brother so deceitfully. He had actually despised his birthright and was only tearful when he thought its loss would deprive him of comforts and a place in the world. But now that other circumstances had made him wealthy in his own right, he was genuinely happy to see his brother return. But it must not be forgotten that God was over all this, for by nature Esau would have carried hatred in his heart.
Introductions to the various members of the family then took place, following which Esau offered to journey with Jacob and his company and lead them to their destination, or at least leave some of the men to help them on the way. Jacob, hover, remained ill at ease with his brother, perhaps because his conscience still reminded him of past circumstances. Using the small children and the herds as an excuse he exclaimed: “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.” “So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.” Jacob, hover, had no intention of going to Mount Seir.
ML-12/11/1966