MARCH 1, 2025 – GRACE

READ: Gen. 33:1–17:  … But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept…

At Peniel, Jacob met the LORD Himself, which brought about a change in his self-willed life. The LORD compelled him to live by His grace from then on. This gave Jacob the peace and courage to meet Esau. That meeting happens very soon. It is immediately a test of whether Jacob now truly trusts in God.

Esau approaches with an armed force. Yet Jacob does not flee from him this time but calmly prepares for his arrival. He arranges his family in such a way that they can greet Esau with the proper respect and show how richly God has blessed him.

Jacob’s seven-fold bowing before Esau is a sign of humility, but it need not necessarily indicate weakness. Whoever humbles himself will be exalted! Being the least is not a sign of weakness. Furthermore, it was customary in the East to emphasize hospitality in this way.

In this manner, the LORD softens Esau’s heart. Esau then responds very differently than Jacob had expected (compare Gen. 32:7 and onward). He embraces Jacob and they kiss each other. After all, they are brothers. Jacob points to the resources he has received by the LORD’s grace, and he is eager to share something with Esau.

Jacob makes two statements which reveal the direct influence of Peniel. He sees in Esau’s changed disposition the clear work of the LORD: I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God. Further, he tells Esau: Please accept my gift… because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have everything.

Although Jacob is happy to share his gifts, he does not join Esau in traveling together. Their mindsets are too different. Jacob has been drawn closer to God by the LORD Himself. Esau, however, is quite different. Thus, they each go their separate ways.

Do you always need to be the least? How can you achieve this?

Sing: Ps. 18:15