The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him today and what came to my heart and mind in Genesis 33:8-11,
"Esau asked, 'What's the meaning of all these flocks and herds I met?' 'To find favor in your eyes, my lord,' he said. But Esau said, 'I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.' 'No, please!' said Jacob. 'If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably. Please accept the present that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.' And because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it."
Twenty years prior to this, Jacob fled Esau because he had tricked Esau out of his birthright and his blessing from their father Isaac. Jacob had gone to his mother's country to find a wife for himself and now he returns with flocks and herds and wives and children and servants: a wealthy man. He also returned with a promise from God, "I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted." Genesis 32:12.
Jacob had also had a series of encounters with God. On his way to find a wife for himself he had the vision, or dream, in a place he would call Bethel, of a stairway that extended from earth to heaven with angels ascending and descending on it. Above it God told him, "I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." Genesis 28:13-15.
We also read of Jacob, on his return back home having an encounter with "a man". We are told they wrestled all night, till daybreak and that Jacob would not let go of the "man" until he blessed him. The "man" told him his name would now be changed to Israel "because you have struggled with God and humans and have overcome." Genesis 32:28. Jacob named the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared." Genesis 32:30.
With all we see in Jacob's (now named "Israel") life, I can't help but be impressed with Jacob's disposition toward his brother Esau. Certainly Jacob was in fear for his life as Esau came out to meet him with 400 men. However, God had promised Jacob that he would be with him until he brought him back (see Genesis 28:15). Yet, Jacob approached Esau carefully, sending gifts ahead, and dividing all he had into groups. When he came face to face with Esau he bowed down to him seven times and called Esau "my lord" to seek Esau's favor, 33:3,8. He tells Esau that for him to see his face was like seeing the face of God, verse 10.
What a disposition! What an outlook for a man who had it all!
Today, as I look at the disposition and attitude of many of those "religious leaders" on TV, who claim to have a special connection with God for one reason or another, I see little of what I see in Jacob. What I do see in James 3:17-18 is, "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness."
I suspect if we all focused more on the lives of God's people in Scripture we might do much better than if we look around at what passes for "Christian posturing" of the day.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
"Esau asked, 'What's the meaning of all these flocks and herds I met?' 'To find favor in your eyes, my lord,' he said. But Esau said, 'I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.' 'No, please!' said Jacob. 'If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably. Please accept the present that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.' And because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it."
Twenty years prior to this, Jacob fled Esau because he had tricked Esau out of his birthright and his blessing from their father Isaac. Jacob had gone to his mother's country to find a wife for himself and now he returns with flocks and herds and wives and children and servants: a wealthy man. He also returned with a promise from God, "I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted." Genesis 32:12.
Jacob had also had a series of encounters with God. On his way to find a wife for himself he had the vision, or dream, in a place he would call Bethel, of a stairway that extended from earth to heaven with angels ascending and descending on it. Above it God told him, "I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac. I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying. Your descendants will be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All peoples on earth will be blessed through you and your offspring. I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land. I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you." Genesis 28:13-15.
We also read of Jacob, on his return back home having an encounter with "a man". We are told they wrestled all night, till daybreak and that Jacob would not let go of the "man" until he blessed him. The "man" told him his name would now be changed to Israel "because you have struggled with God and humans and have overcome." Genesis 32:28. Jacob named the place Peniel, saying, "It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared." Genesis 32:30.
With all we see in Jacob's (now named "Israel") life, I can't help but be impressed with Jacob's disposition toward his brother Esau. Certainly Jacob was in fear for his life as Esau came out to meet him with 400 men. However, God had promised Jacob that he would be with him until he brought him back (see Genesis 28:15). Yet, Jacob approached Esau carefully, sending gifts ahead, and dividing all he had into groups. When he came face to face with Esau he bowed down to him seven times and called Esau "my lord" to seek Esau's favor, 33:3,8. He tells Esau that for him to see his face was like seeing the face of God, verse 10.
What a disposition! What an outlook for a man who had it all!
Today, as I look at the disposition and attitude of many of those "religious leaders" on TV, who claim to have a special connection with God for one reason or another, I see little of what I see in Jacob. What I do see in James 3:17-18 is, "But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness."
I suspect if we all focused more on the lives of God's people in Scripture we might do much better than if we look around at what passes for "Christian posturing" of the day.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just reply and let me know.
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