20231001 Genesis 33: Jacob Leaves the Altar, Esau Turns the Other Cheek

Genesis 33 ESV

1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants. 2 And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. 3 He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. 4 But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. 5 And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” 6 Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down. 7 Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down. And last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down. 8 Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company that I met?” Jacob answered, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” 9 But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” 10 Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me. 11 Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Thus he urged him, and he took it. 12 Then Esau said, “Let us journey on our way, and I will go ahead of you.” 13 But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and that the nursing flocks and herds are a care to me. If they are driven hard for one day, all the flocks will die. 14 Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will lead on slowly, at the pace of the livestock that are ahead of me and at the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.” 15 So Esau said, “Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” 16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17 But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. 18 And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city. 19 And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, he bought for a hundred pieces of money the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent. 20 There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.

(1) Genesis: A book about God

Genesis is a book written to Israel, written to the world, written to us

The true and living God

An understanding of who God is: His person and character

An understanding of obedience

An understanding of sinfulness and depravity

An understanding of worship

An understanding of salvation by faith

An understanding of living by faith

An understanding of covenant faithfulness and promise

If your car loan is a contract, how should you respond?

If marriage is a covenant, how should you respond?

The Bible teaches that our very redemption is based on a covenant. Much could be said here about the character of the biblical covenants, but one vital facet is that none of them is a private matter. Every covenant is undertaken in the presence of witnesses. This is why we invite guests to our weddings. It is so they will witness our vows—and hold us accountable to keep them. It is one thing for a man to whisper expressions of love to a woman when no one will hear, but it is quite another thing for him to stand up in a church, in front of parents, friends, ecclesiastical or civil authorities, and God Himself, and there make promises to love and cherish her. Wedding vows are sacred promises made in the presence of witnesses who will remember them.

The covenant of redemption is a theological concept that refers to the harmony and unity of purpose that has been in existence from all eternity in terms of the mutual relationship and agreement between all three persons of the Trinity. God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit are agreed from all eternity in terms of bringing forth the work of redemption.

We distinguish among the persons of the Godhead in terms of the specific tasks they perform in the outworking of redemption. We read in John 3:16, “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him would not perish but have everlasting life.”

But back to our relationship with God being described as a covenant relationship.

How should a covenant people respond?

How should you respond to God?

How should you respond to false gods?

How should you respond to people who hurt you, cheat you, deceive you?

Moses is writing to the twelve tribes. Moses is writing to the nations of the world.

What does this chapter say?

(2) Genesis: A book about reconciliation.

Laban and Jacob, Esaua and Jacob

David and Saul, David and Absalom

The desire to be separate, to not integrate (we’ll see this in chapter 34)

The need to offer diplomacy

Esau is leading and directing but the Lord said, the younger is to lead the older, the older serve the younger

Esau may have softened, but now he needs to serve

Bethel - the house of God but Jacob goes north of Jeruslaem

Matthew 5:22–24 ESV

22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Matthew 5:38–40 ESV

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well.

2 Corinthians 5:18–19 ESV

18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

God, the God of Israel - Notice that all through the chapter he is Jacob. But now he has returned to the land, now he is worshiping. Now Jacob is Israel.

Grace Be with You: Benedictions from Dale Ralph Davis (6)

May the God and Father of

our Lord Jesus Christ, the

Father of mercies and the God

of all comfort, comfort you in all

your afflictions, so that you may

be able to comfort those who are

in any affliction, with the comfort

with which you yourself have

been comforted by God. Amen.

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 (ESV)

23 For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body, which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.