Building a People of God With Unusual Characters: Jacob, Part 2: Facing Esau in the Promised Land

God’s Unique or Unusual Characters

So far, our band of unique characters has covered Noah, Abraham, Isaac’s wife Rebekah, our first lesson on Joseph, then Leah & Rachel. Today we’re back to Joseph, as he returns home to the promised lands of Canaan.

He has been in the indentured service of his uncle Laban for 14 years to purchase his beloved Rachel, after getting tricked by Laban into first marrying his older daughter Leah when he had contracted for just 7 years for Rachel, the daughter he really wanted. Last week we talked about the scheming between Leah and Rachel as they were both vying for the role of “first wife,” as Jacob’s 12 sons were born.

After those 14 years, Laban got another 6 years of Jacob’s labor, but in the last few years Jacob was shown by God how to increase his own fortunes by careful manipulation of the breeding stock of the goats and sheep. He became richer than his uncle, who was squandering his personal fortunes.

Then God told Jacob to get out of the land of his forefathers and go back to the land of promise. So he shared with Rachel and Leah that it was time to leave Laban. They were glad to get out of town, because they didn’t trust their Daddy as far as they could throw him.

>>>Here’s the way the Jacob shares the call of God with his wives:

Genesis 31:13 CSB

13 I am the God of Bethel, where you poured oil on the stone marker and made a solemn vow to me. Get up, leave this land, and return to your native land.’ ”

>>>So after an exciting encounter with an angry Laban, and a hasty peace covenant, Jacob, Leah, Rachel and all their servants and children and flocks and all were back on the road.

Jacob Leaves Paddan-Aram on God’s Order

But there is a problem. Jacob is obedient to the call of God to get back to the promised lands of Canaan, but he isn’t really at peace. In fact, he is scared to distraction at the prospect of facing Esau because of his brother’s promise to kill him.

That’s why Rebekah sent him away to Paddan-Aram and her brother Laban 20 years before. So let’s pick up the story as the tribes of Jacob moves closer to where God wants them to be. Mostly, this morning, we’ll be in Genesis chapters 32 and 33. I invite you to have your Bibles in hand, for there is a really good read in all of these pages of the descendents of Abraham.

>>>So, anyway, as we get back to the escaping crowd, with a very nervous Jacob, . . .

God’s Angels Confirm Jacob’s Journey

Which is a real gift of God as Jacob is now traveling this route as a rich man of 60 years old or so.

>>>This was all fresh territory after 20 years of entrapment in Haran, and having crossed out of those borders, we catch the story again . . .

Genesis 32:1–2 CSB

1 Jacob went on his way, and God’s angels met him. 2 When he saw them, Jacob said, “This is God’s camp.” So he called that place Mahanaim.

Mahanaim means “two camps” as Jacob had his camp and he saw God’s camp of angels. We don’t have much more information about this angel cohort, it is more of a confirmation that Jacob’s journey is ordered by God. There is a play on the idea of two camps in a few verses that are coming up.

At first, all seems in good stead as Jacob, his substantial herds, his 2 wives, 2 concubines and 11 children continue their way home to Canaan.

>>>Then, when he comes within messenger’s range of Edom,

Jacob Asks For His Brother’s Favor

By means of a courier. That was the equivalent to email compared to snail mail. He sent a few men ahead to Edom on fast camels to contact his brother Esau and come back with a report.

>>>Here’s the Bible’s record of that in Genesis 32:3-5:

Genesis 32:3–5 CSB

3 Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the territory of Edom. 4 He commanded them, “You are to say to my lord Esau, ‘This is what your servant Jacob says. I have been staying with Laban and have been delayed until now. 5 I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female slaves. I have sent this message to inform my lord, in order to seek your favor.’ ”

So all seems like it is unfolding as it should. God called Jacob back to Palestine, he got out of Haran with a peace treaty from Laban, he had his family and his flocks and the servants he had added to his nomadic estate, and now he sends this apparently humble message to his brother.

>>>And he awaits the messenger’s return, which probably takes a week or so. Then the messengers come back to Jacob with news of.. . .

Esau’s Coming Army

Which doesn’t exactly put Jacob at ease. He was hoping for a quiet passage, but with the size of his herds he would surely get reported to Esau, who had done alright for himself.

>>>The message he go back was troubling:

Genesis 32:6 CSB

6 When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau; he is coming to meet you—and he has four hundred men with him.”

There isn’t much context that comes from the messengers. Only that Esau is coming to meet Jacob with 400 men.

The more Jacob thought about it, the more afraid he became.

>>>After all, Esau’s last promise after Jacob stole Isaac’s blessing was not very positive, as we look back to when Rebekah had Isaac send Jacob to her brother Laban. . .

Genesis 27:41 CSB

41 Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. And Esau determined in his heart, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.”

>>>So now Esau is coming to meet Jacob with 400 men and

Jacob Is Shaking In His Sandals

He was marching his tribe straight into the jaws of a death threat. But it was too late to turn back, so Jacob plans how he might survive this encounter. He isn’t yet sure if he will still be breathing in a few months.

>>>I suppose this has worked on Jacob’s consciousness for years. It’s about the only good reason for staying with Laban as long as he had, if it was just for a wife that he went. After all, Jacob was the son Isaac had blessed and who would inherit his Father’s lands and livestock.

So now, Jacob takes a clue from the angel camp he saw and divides his own troupe into two camps:

Genesis 32:7–8 CSB

7 Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; he divided the people with him into two camps, along with the flocks, herds, and camels. 8 He thought, “If Esau comes to one camp and attacks it, the remaining one can escape.”

Jacob has lived most of his adult life on his own wits. Yes, there have been times God showed up to guide and prosper him, like the vision of the stairway to heaven and the vision when God told Jacob that he would inherit the land first promised to Abraham then to Isaac. And God told him how to build his flock so he could escape Laban with more than pocket change.

But now, his own wits had left him. He was scared, at the end of his bag of trick. He couldn’t go back to Laban’s territories. He had to press forward, but it seemed into the very jaws of his brother who might be his worst enemy at this point.

>>>There is only one thing to do, as the Trickster Deceiver sets aside all pretence of being able to do this on his own and finally learns to lean on God’s protection and purpose.

Jacob Pleads With God

It doesn’t seem that Jacob’s life up to this point was very focused on a spiritual relationship. He was a smart man who felt favored and privileged, who had made his own way and riches in what was a bad situation.

>>>Suddenly his life is not just about knowing about God’s guidance and purpose, for now it’s about getting God’s protection:

Genesis 32:9–10 CSB

9 Then Jacob said, “God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the Lord who said to me, ‘Go back to your land and to your family, and I will cause you to prosper,’ 10 I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. Indeed, I crossed over the Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two camps.

>>>Jacob’s own Mahanaim, two camps, was in need of help, so . . .

Jacob Prays for Rescue

Genesis 32:11–12 CSB

11 Please rescue me from my brother Esau, for I am afraid of him; otherwise, he may come and attack me, the mothers, and their children. 12 You have said, ‘I will cause you to prosper, and I will make your offspring like the sand of the sea, too numerous to be counted.’ ”

>>>Even though it is an exploration of faith to pray to the God of his fathers, it was not because Jacob was all that confident in what was about to happen. So. . .

Jacob Plans For the Worst

As he gets closer and closer to his encounter with Esau.

Genesis 32:13–16 CSB

13 He spent the night there and took part of what he had brought with him as a gift for his brother Esau: 14 two hundred female goats, twenty male goats, two hundred ewes, twenty rams, 15 thirty milk camels with their young, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty female donkeys, and ten male donkeys. 16 He entrusted them to his slaves as separate herds and said to them, “Go on ahead of me, and leave some distance between the herds.”

>>>He has divided his large troupe into 2 camps, and now he has prepared a bribe for his brother’s favor, so. . .

Jacob Proffers Huge Gifts

to his brother Esau.

Working on his own wits, he hoped this would all work out well, but if it didn’t, he might get away with his own life and some of his family.

Genesis 32:17–19 CSB

17 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?’ 18 then tell him, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift sent to my lord Esau. And look, he is behind us.’ ” 19 He also told the second one, the third, and everyone who was walking behind the animals, “Say the same thing to Esau when you find him.

Now as it seems clear to our reading,

Jacob’s Purpose is to Buy Forgiveness

So now the message the servants are to bring his brother becomes clear in the words of the scripture:

Genesis 32:20 CSB

20 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.”

But in all of this, we find that. . .

Jacob Is Very Alone

because it wasn’t Leah’s problem, or Rachel’s problem, or his boys’ problem. This encounter with his brother after 20 years was completely Jacob’s problem, and he knew it.

Genesis 32:21–23 CSB

21 So the gift was sent on ahead of him while he remained in the camp that night. 22 During the night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two slave women, and his eleven sons, and crossed the ford of Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, along with all his possessions.

>>>So alone. And that’s when, in the depth of the night, while wrestling with his own fears,

God’s Man Wrestles With Jacob

This part of the story has been interpreted many ways, trying to figure out exactly whom Jacob wrestled. Christians try to see Christ in here, Jesus the Man who is God.

>>>But that’s not our focus, we are simply catching the story in its richness and drama.

Genesis 32:24–25 CSB

24 Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he could not defeat him, he struck Jacob’s hip socket as they wrestled and dislocated his hip.

Well, that sure left a mark! Forever after Jacob would struggle with a sore hip. No replacement surgeries in his day. He was lucky to still be walking after this.

>>>But Jacob isn’t done with this man who wrestled him, and . . .

Jacob Demands a Blessing

Genesis 32:26–27 CSB

26 Then he said to Jacob, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 “What is your name?” the man asked. “Jacob,” he replied.

Jacob’s Blessing Is A New Identity

Genesis 32:28 CSB

28 “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” he said. “It will be Israel because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.”

I am going to say something more about this in a few moments. But the thing that you need to see in this verse is that Jacob was given a new name. It was a name coming from this messenger of God to take with him to remember that he did not have to be the deceiver, but instead the one whose life has been changed by his struggling against what God has planned for him, until finally, he has no choice but to be known as someone who had to finally give up the fight and let God do some work in his life.

For this one who has always been the deceiver, finding a way to get his way, life suddenly got a lot more real. Jacob would be known as God’s wrestler—who finally came to lean on the God who was always there, whether Jacob knew it or not. Israel, the Patriarch of the 12 Tribes of God’s People that would finally resettle in the land of Canaan in about 500 years.

You really need the long view if you will be used by God for great purposes.

>>>Jacob was so struck, he wanted to be able to name his antagonist known. He wanted to tell the story. But this was forbidden territory:

Genesis 32:29 CSB

29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he answered, “Why do you ask my name?” And he blessed him there.

It wasn’t for Jacob to carry the name of this messenger, to boast of his night. It was enough that he would remember this encounter. Jacob was blessed and would finally be able to be a blessing to others.

>>>So important was this encounter,

Jacob Marks the Place with a New Name

Genesis 32:30 CSB

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

Peniel means something like “the face of God.” It fits Jacob’s story. Now, we have the description of the Bible that Jacob lived through this, for this is good news.

>>>As we already noted, his hip was sore. After wrestling with God, Jacob needed a reminder of God’s purposes for him, so God gave him his own thorn in the flesh as . . .

Jacob Leaves With A Limp

Genesis 32:31 CSB

31 The sun shone on him as he passed by Penuel—limping because of his hip.

Genesis 32:32 CSB

32 That is why, still today, the Israelites don’t eat the thigh muscle that is at the hip socket: because he struck Jacob’s hip socket at the thigh muscle.

This encounter changed Jacob. He probably hadn’t even figured out that it was life-changing. He was just trying to sort out what it was that was happening.

Here he is, shaking in his sandals about what might happen as he met his estranged brother on the outskirts of the promised land.

There was no more putting it off.

But what had happened during that night of wrestling with the divine was a change in the very personality of Jacob. His own wits had gotten him through in his time in Paddan-Aram. And his wrestling with the divine taught him something that he probably wouldn’t learn otherwise.

Jacob’s future is not in his own hands. It has to be entrusted to the God of his Fathers, as it’s

Time to Face the Enemy

Genesis 33:1 CSB

1 Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two slave women.

Genesis 33:2 CSB

2 He put the slaves and their children first, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last.

Genesis 33:3 CSB

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

After all this careful planning, slow approach, rich gifts, a show a some strength and Eastern-style genuflecting,

>>>although Jacob expected to have to face a man’s wrath, instead,

Jacob Meets A Brother Not A Foe

Genesis 33:4 CSB

4 But Esau ran to meet him, hugged him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. Then they wept.

Jacob Introduces His Family

Genesis 33:5 CSB

5 When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, “Who are these with you?” He answered, “The children God has graciously given your servant.”

Genesis 33:6 CSB

6 Then the slaves and their children approached him and bowed down.

Genesis 33:7 CSB

7 Leah and her children also approached and bowed down, and then Joseph and Rachel approached and bowed down.

Trust Comes Hard

Genesis 33:8–9 CSB

8 So Esau said, “What do you mean by this whole procession I met?” “To find favor with you, my lord,” he answered. 9 “I have enough, my brother,” Esau replied. “Keep what you have.”

Jacob Pays for Favor

Right now, he doesn’t pray for favor. Still not quite settled that God was his protector and provider, he still would rather pay for favor than simply accept it.

Genesis 33:10 CSB

10 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.

Genesis 33:11 CSB

11 Please take my present that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have everything I need.” So Jacob urged him until he accepted.

Jacob Keeps His Distance

Genesis 33:12 CSB

12 Then Esau said, “Let’s move on, and I’ll go ahead of you.”

Genesis 33:13 CSB

13 Jacob replied, “My lord knows that the children are weak, and I have nursing flocks and herds. If they are driven hard for one day, the whole herd will die.

Genesis 33:14 CSB

14 Let my lord go ahead of his servant. I will continue on slowly, at a pace suited to the livestock and the children, until I come to my lord at Seir.”

Jacob Decline’s Esau’s Offer of Defense

And I think that is because Jacob was still very afraid of his brother’s motives. And, considering their troubled past, why wouldn’t he be cautious?

Genesis 33:15 CSB

15 Esau said, “Let me leave some of my people with you.” But he replied, “Why do that? Please indulge me, my lord.”

Genesis 33:16 CSB

16 That day Esau started on his way back to Seir,

Jacob Avoids Edom

Rest Stop in Succoth

Genesis 33:17 CSB

17 but Jacob went to Succoth. He built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock; that is why the place was called Succoth.

Settlement in Shechem

Genesis 33:18 CSB

18 After Jacob came from Paddan-aram, he arrived safely at Shechem in the land of Canaan and camped in front of the city.

Genesis 33:19 CSB

19 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.

An Altar to God

Genesis 33:20 CSB

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

Jacob isn’t yet back in Bethel.

That comes as we get to our 3rd lesson on Jacob next week. He won’t be ready for Bethel until he’s ready to embrace his new identity as Israel.

But what do we really need to get from today’s lesson that will help us in our own lives?

God will take care of you

Grudges will consume you.

Fear will will overwhelm faith

God doesn’t intend us to live in fear.

Whether you are Esau nursing a grudge or Jacob fearing a death threat, or just an average human knowing your own sinful state,

GOD WANT YOU TO BE FREE OF FEAR

Both Brothers Bury Their Father

Genesis 35:28–29 CSB

28 Isaac lived 180 years. 29 He took his last breath and died, and was gathered to his people, old and full of days. His sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

The inheritance had long been settled. For Isaac had little to offer other than the burial plot at Mamre and the remains of his household goods in Hebron. Jacob had Isaac’s blessing and Esau’s birthright, but Isaac’s blessing on Esau also released him from his grudge and he threw off the yoke of bitterness it caused, and now he was free of any need for vengeance.