Face to Face Genesis 32-33

Show pictures of faces of people

The face is where most non verbal communication takes place.

"The face of a child can say it all, especially the mouth part of the face."   --  Jack Handey

I was thinking seeing God face must be a terribly awesome experience.

Exodus 33:20 CSB

But he added, “You cannot see my face, for humans cannot see me and live.”

So a lot of Christian’s talk about seeing God’s face but they don’t really consider this truth. That it is a frightening and dangerous experience.

We need to talk about faces today because there are 4 faces in today’s passage and hence there are 4 faces in today sermon because like alway we are going to follow the passage.

Btw the Hebrew O.T. uses the word face a lot, 2045 times to be exact in the OT. and it can mean different things. (front, head, former time or before, mouth, surface, extreme opposition) all in this little word Pane(h) or face.

The 1st Face - Laban’s Face

While Jacob was living with his Uncle Laban in Paddan-aram the sun set on his life in the wilderness years of his life it was the nonverbal communication of a face that prompted him to find the courage to leave and make his way back to the promised land.

Jacob could see in his Father-in-law’s face that his attitude had changed.

Genesis 31:2 CSB

And Jacob saw from Laban’s face that his attitude toward him was not the same as before.

Laban sons were jealous of all the wealth that Jacob was accumulating and it seems that their father was listening to their complaints.

God used this to get Jacob back to the ultimate destination the promised land.

Transition: But there is a problem with the promised land in our story. Esau is there. If he goes back he has to face (pun intended) his brother.

Jacob had 2 main antagonists in his life story. Laban and Esau. One outside of the promised land and one inside the promised land. There is the world and the flesh, sometimes our greatest enemy is within us. Esau is within the promised land but also lives rent free in Jacob’s mind.

The 2nd Face - Jacob’s Face to Appease His Brother

Jacob trying to appease his brother with gifts

the Hebrew word for face is used 2045 times in the OT. It is used 4 times in these 2 verses.

Genesis 32:20–21 CSB

You are also to say, ‘Look, your servant Jacob is right behind us.’ ” For he thought, “I want to appease Esau with the gift that is going ahead of me. After that, I can face him, and perhaps he will forgive me.” So the gift was sent on ahead of him while he remained in the camp that night.

“I will pacify him with these gifts I am sending from my face; later, when I see his face, perhaps he will lift my face. So Jacob’s gifts went on from his face, but he himself spent the night in the camp.”

The Hebrew word for face “Pane(h)” is tying all these events together. in verse 17 too! Literally “from my face” in Hebrew = ahead in English

Genesis 32:17 CSB

And he told the first one, “When my brother Esau meets you and asks, ‘Who do you belong to? Where are you going? And whose animals are these ahead of you?’

Build Tension: Behind him the “face” of Laban was not what it was before. God had closed that door. But now he wondered what the “face” of Esau ahead of him would bring. Whether God world open that door for him.

And while we are talking about the uncertainty of his future and his wondering whether God would open the door to let Esau back in his life we encounter the most important face in our story the the 3rd face...

The 3rd Face - The Face of God on the Jabbok

Jacob was confused when he was wrestling. He probably thought that he was facing (again pun intended) an assassin sent from Esau. But with the rising of the sun he realized that he was facing (lol) God!

…And he knew that he was incredibly fortunate that he only limped away with a busted hip. Becasue people don’t just see God face to face and live to tell about it. That is why he said my life has been spared.

Genesis 32:30 CSB

Jacob then named the place Peniel, “For I have seen God face to face,” he said, “yet my life has been spared.”

Exodus 33:20 CSB

But he added, “You cannot see my face, for humans cannot see me and live.”

btw can now that you know the Hebrew word Pane(h) = face you can see why he named this place Peniel. Pane(h) = face; El = God.

He has had this encounter with God, He has faced God but now he needs to apply it to his life. Like when you leave church and face the week.

Jacob must face his brother in real life. God has dealt with his heart and his hip. Not Jacob needs to finally for once in his life do what is right.

The 4th Face -God’s Face Reflected Back at Him in Esau’s Face.

The morning comes and Jacob has his limp. This is the day of reckoning. He probably wanted to be the best version of himself and not this limping old man.

He has his plan like always that is what Jacob is good at, planing lol.

He lines up his family in the order of who he would like to protect most.

then He faces his brother

Genesis 33:3 CSB

He himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times until he approached his brother.

What is going on here? Normally you would think that Jacob would be the one to be at the back of the line thinking of himself. How he could escape.

But he went ahead. The word for ahead is pane(h). He passed to the face of them. He is finally taking responsibility and facing Esau.

I guess when Jacob saw God face it really did change him because this is not par for the course for him.

Bowing 7 times out of respect. In that culture this is how you approached Kings.

When Jacob finally faces his brother what happens? ....build tension....Hugs him and throws his arms around him and kisses him.

read verse 5...

Genesis 33:10 CSB

But Jacob said, “No, please! If I have found favor with you, take this gift from me. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing God’s face, since you have accepted me.

serious question that I believe God wants me to ask based off this passage: Do people see God’s face reflected in your face?

Child Psychologists tell us that is is how children learn emotions and emotionally connection. They download what they see on their parents faces and learn non-verbals well before they can talk.

We are God’s children we should be doing the same with His face and reflecting what His face is.

what is God’s face?

Not only did Jacob see God face and live to tell about it. He also saw his brothers face and lived to tell the tail.

No man can see my face and live. When we do see God’s face it causes us to die to self. It changes us. It kills our old nature.

When Moses finally saw God it says...

Ex 34:6 The LORD passed “Pane(h)” in front of him and proclaimed:

The LORD—the LORD is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth, 7 maintaining faithful love to a thousand generations, forgiving iniquity, rebellion, and sin. But he will not leave the guilty unpunished, bringing the consequences of the fathers’ iniquity on the children and grandchildren to the third and fourth generation.

When you see God’s face He will overwhelm you with His glory and you will be changed. The old you will die. We talk about becoming a christian as being born again. When Jacob saw God he died to himself and made God his God. and Jacob was never the same. He limped, his name was changed, but more importantly his heart had the reflection of God’s face on it.

Seeing God’s face should give you a heart of worship. This sermon was about 4 faces and 1 heart. It is the heart of Jacob and the heart we should also have. A heart of worship.

Jacobs sees in God’s face a blessing and love

Jacobs keeps his promise he made to God at Bethel and makes God his God.

Genesis 33:18–20 CSB

After Jacob came from Paddan-aram, he arrived safely at Shechem in the land of Canaan and camped in front of the city. He purchased a section of the field where he had pitched his tent from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver. And he set up an altar there and called it God, the God of Israel.

Genesis 33:20 CSB

And he set up an altar there and called it God, the God of Israel.

In the center of an idolatrous land Isreal sets up a new center of worship because even when we are surrounded by wickedness we can see God’s face and worship Him. Jacob saw God’s face and lived to tell of it. Jacob reunited with his brother Esau and Esau did not kill him but rather he saw God in his brothers face.

If seeing God’s face does not kill you it should change your heart.

has your heart been changed to a heart of worship? Have you seen God’s face?

Benediction:

The New International Version (Chapter 6)

22 The LORD said to Moses, “Tell Aaron and his sons, ‘This is how you are to bless the Israelites. Say to them:

“ ‘ “The LORD bless you and keep you;

the LORD make his face Pane(h) shine on you and be gracious to you;

the LORD turn his face Pane(h) toward you and give you peace.” 

“So they will put my name on the Israelites, and I will bless them.”