Wisdom Says Go but Slow

Wisdom Says Go but Slow

Genesis 33: ¹² Then Esau said, “Let us take our journey; let us go, and I will go before you.”

¹³ But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are weak, and the flocks and herds which are nursing are with me. And if the men should drive them hard one day, all the flock will die. ¹⁴ Please let my lord go on ahead before his servant. I will lead on slowly at a pace which the livestock that go before me, and the children, are able to endure, until I come to my lord in Seir.”

 

¹⁵ And Esau said, “Now 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 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, built himself a house, and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.

 

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Knowing the land was full of raiders, Esau suggested that he lead Jacob, his people and herds to safety. But Jacob told Esau that the children were weak and the herds and flocks would die if pushed too hard.

 

My Observations:

• Jacob had to go, but he understood what pace the children and herds could handle.
• Esau wanted to provide protection, but Jacob had wrestled the LORD and was sure he would be taken care of.
• Jacob’s faith had grown now that he faced his fear of Esau.

 

Now that the biggest fear was over, facing thieves and robbers was of little concern to Jacob. He had mistreated Esau to “fulfill” GOD’s promise. This messy family situation was known by GOD, yet HE allowed it to play out as it did.

 

GOD healed broken relationships during this meeting. HE also told Jacob to go back to the land and that he would be protected. Jacob had reminded GOD about HIS protection when he was full of fear, as if GOD did not know. He would go and make sure that no harm came to his family or herds because of the possible rushed pace of Esau’s men.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about the pace struggle between Esau and Jacob?
• Have you ever been in a situation where it seemed like everything was coming at you too fast, yet something needed to be done?
• Will you continue to go forward, but slow down enough to take care of those around you and the obligations?

I Have Enough

 I Have Enough

Genesis 33: ⁸ Then Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?”

And he said, “These are 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 And Jacob said, “No, please, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me. ¹¹ Please, take my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” So he urged him, and he took it.

 

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Esau asked Jacob about all the stuff that was placed before him. Jacob had set aside herds and breeders so the herds would remain plentiful. It took some doing, but Jacob convinced Esau to take the gift.

 

My Observations:

• Esau had grown to be a mighty leader and had no need for more of what he could get.
• Jacob had grown to be a very influential leader and had not need of what he had plenty of.
• Esau and Jacob had both grown up beyond the stuff they had.

 

Esau wanted to kill Jacob for stealing his birthright and the blessing from Isaac. But he realized his lifestyle may have caused his own problems. Esau tried to change by going to Ishmael and marrying someone from his family instead of marrying another Hittite woman. This was the start of Esau’s growth.

 

Jacob served a greedy uncle who could only think about free labor. For twenty years, Jacob changed little by little. Jacob saw the LORD and wrestled with HIM. Jacob grew stronger in his belief in GOD’s power. He had plenty and gave Esau a gift, probably asking for forgiveness.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about the gift exchange between Jacob and Esau?
• Do you feel you are lacking or have plenty?
• Will you ask GOD to show you what real plentifulness looks like?

Humble Reunion

Humble Reunion

Genesis 33: ⁴ But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. ⁵ And he lifted his eyes and saw the women and children, and said, “Who are these with you?”

So he said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” ⁶ Then the maidservants came near, they and their children, and bowed down. ⁷ And Leah also came near with her children, and they bowed down. Afterward Joseph and Rachel came near, and they bowed down.

 

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Expecting to be killed, Jacob received a surprise. Esau ran to meet him, embraced him and kissed him. Bilhah cam forth with her children, then Zilpah with her children, then Leah with her children then Joseph and Rachel came. All of them bowed down.

 

My Observations:

• Jacob did not expect the warm greeting he received from Esau.
• Jacob was probably more than relieved that he did not get what he felt he deserved.
• Everyone in Jacob’s family surrendered to Esau in a very humbling way.

 

Both Esau and Jacob had grown up. Esau probably wanted to see Jacob for decades and asked questions about his family. Esau may have realized that his rage was caused by his own actions. Jacob the same.

 

Jacob came to Esau humbly. He referred to himself as “your servant” when speaking to Esau. He did not go into the situation blaming Esau for not respecting his birthright. Esau did not bring up any hurt memories of having his blessing stolen. The reunion was humbling all around. GOD was in the middle of the reunion.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about Esau’s reaction to Jacob?
• Have you ever received undeserved favor from GOD?
• Is there an area of your life that needs to be humbled so you can surrender it to GOD?

 

Preparing for the Worst

Preparing for the Worst

Genesis 33: Now Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and there, Esau was coming, and with him were four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants. ² And he put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children behind, and Rachel and Joseph last. ³ Then he crossed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

 

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Esau was finally on his way. That dreaded time had finally arrived. Jacob put the women and children in front, then he bowed seven times until he reached his brother.

 

My Observations:

• Jacob was preparing for the worst to happen.
• Jacob had to let go of pride and face his fear of his brother.
• Jacob may have thought putting the women and children up front would soften the blow.

 

Full of fear and writhing in pain from wrestling with JESUS, Jacob humbly approached Esau. The dreaded day had come. Jacob probably thought he was going to die. We all can think of the worst, can’t we? Jacob seemed to try everything he could think of, but had to face Esau on Esau’s terms.

 

Jacob finally humbled himself and bowed down to Esau. He saw Esau’s four hundred men and knew he had no chance of escape. He probably thought about all the wrong he did and could not fathom how a positive outcome could happen. BUT GOD was there.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about Jacob’s actions?
• Have you ever gotten into a situation that was out of your control?
• Can you rethink the outcome with GOD’s love added so you can change fear to faith today?

Trying to Control

Trying to Control

Genesis 32: ¹³ So he lodged there that same night, and took what came to his hand as a present for Esau his brother: ¹⁴ two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, ¹⁵ thirty milk camels with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals. ¹⁶ Then he delivered them to the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me, and put some distance between successive droves.” ¹⁷ And he commanded the first one, saying, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, saying, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you going? Whose are these in front of you?’ ¹⁸ then you shall say, ‘They are your servant Jacob’s. It is a present sent to my lord Esau; and behold, he also is behind us.’ ” ¹⁹ So he commanded the second, the third, and all who followed the droves, saying, “In this manner you shall speak to Esau when you find him; ²⁰ and also say, ‘Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us.’ ” For he said, “I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.” ²¹ So the present went on over before him, but he himself lodged that night in the camp.

 

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In a desperate effort to control the situation, Jacob figured he would try to control the situation by making Esau rich. He arranged to give Esau hundreds of animals with the ability to breed more and more.

 

My Observations:

• Jacob tried to prepare for Esau’s arrival by staging a welcome full of gifts.
• Jacob tried to reenter his old country on his own terms.
• Jacob tried to control the outcome by thinking of what Esau would say and do.

 

As if to say “If I were Esau….” Jacob planned for any eventuality. But his plan had a flaw. He did not ask GOD “How should I prepare myself to reenter the land?” His plan included bribery and self-protection, hoping to ease the blow of Esau’s anger. Jacob had not factored in GOD’s protection, so he tried to control the situation.

 

Jacob was used to planning his own protection. He had done this for years. He set his camp at the back of the gifts, thinking Esau would be greedy like Laban and possibly himself. He was looking at the situation through the world’s lenses. BUT GOD had the situation under control.

 

Challenge

• Why does GOD tell Moses about Jacob’s plan?
• Have you ever been faced with a situation and tried to control it without asking GOD?
• Will you place your current situation before GOD and allow the HOLY SPIRIT to guide you, knowing you “are” protected?

Scary Obedience

Scary Obedience

Genesis 32: ⁹ Then Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you’: ¹⁰ I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies. ¹¹ Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children. ¹² For You said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’ ”

 

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Being obedient to GOD, Jacob returned to the land of Isaac and Rebekah. He fled from Laban with wealth given to him by GOD. But now he was headed back home where he had to face Esau, the one he originally stole things from. He prayed with anguish.

 

My Observations:

• Jacob feared for his life so his prayer was as sincere as he could make it.
• Jacob hit rock bottom and realized that it was him who caused the problems he was in.
• Jacob realized he was not worthy of receiving GOD’s mercy, so he reminded GOD of HIS promise.

 

GOD had already told Jacob that HE was going to bless him and make him the father of many nations. This would require he and his children to remain alive. But Jacob had been slick all his life and could only see the mess he was in.

 

He reminded GOD of the promise. It’s not like GOD needed a reminder or that GOD needed to be informed of the situation. GOD knew. But this was the first time Jacob was obedient in facing problems he created. He was terrified, but obedient. All he could do was pray and rely on GOD’s protection.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses this prayer?
• Have you ever decided to follow GOD no matter what the consequences are?
• Is it difficult to leave old ways and to turn to the LORD even if it means facing consequences?

Facing Failures

Facing Failures

Genesis 32: ³ Then Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. ⁴ And he commanded them, saying, “Speak thus to my lord Esau, ‘Thus your servant Jacob says: “I have dwelt with Laban and stayed there until now. ⁵ I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.” ’ ”

 

⁶ Then the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he also is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.” ⁷ So Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies. ⁸ And he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the other company which is left will escape.”

 

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GOD told Jacob to return to the land of Isaac and Rebekah. Unfortunately, he had one major problem, namely Esau. Jacob had stolen his birthright and his blessing. He barley escaped with his life when he left. Esau stated he would kill Jacob but Rebekah helped Jacob escape.

 

My Observations:

• GOD sent Jacob back to a place where he had to face his past mistakes.
• Jacob suspected that Esau would still be mad, so he sent messengers ahead to imply he had plenty of gifts to give away.
• Jacob got “greatly afraid and distressed” when he heard Esau was coming to meet him with four hundred men.

 

Being sent back home to a hostile environment may have felt terrible, especially when it was caused by Jacob. BUT GOD had a reason that Jacob was not aware of. GOD was changing Jacob to become a leader who faced situations caused by his own actions. Jacob knew the situation was very serious so he divided the camp in half and prepared them to flee.

 

Jacob was doing what you and I would do. He braced himself for the worst and expected Esau to inflict revenge. Maybe he thought he deserved punishment. Perhaps, deep down he felt he was sorry things happened the way they did. Whatever the case, Jacob faced a difficult situation head on so he could move forward.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses about Jacob’s plan to return to Esau?
• What mistake have you made that you are afraid to admit?
• Can you face the fear of admitting the mistake you made without fighting the consequences you may face so GOD can move you forward?