Read with Me
Genesis 33:1-7 (HCSB)
Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with 400 men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two female slaves. He put the female slaves and their children first, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. He himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times until he approached his brother.
But Esau ran to meet him, hugged him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. Then they wept. 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.” Then the female slaves and their children approached him and bowed down. Leah and her children also approached and bowed down, and then Joseph and Rachel approached and bowed down.
Listen with Me
Jacobs/Israel had been anticipating his meeting with Esau with fear and trepidation. The fact that Esau was coming with 400 men seemed to bode ill for him and his family. He had tried to ease the hostility by sending dozens of sheep, goats, donkeys, and camels ahead of him as gifts to his brother, but he had no idea if those gifts had done anything to lessen Esau’s hostility.
Jacob had brought his wives and children back to the south side of the Jabbok River, expecting to begin moving south. But before they could get started, here came Esau and his men.
Jacob had already put the family groups into order, mostly based on the rankings of the women. Behind him, in the most dangerous place should things go sideways, were the servants/concubines with their children. Next was Leah and her children. At the rear, the furthest away from danger, were Rachel and Joseph. With the family arranged, Jacob himself marched resolutely forward to meet whatever he would find.
But much to his surprise, as soon as Esau saw him, he ran forward to hug him. Of all the greetings Jacob was expecting, this was the most unexpected, leaving Him stunned for a moment before he returned the hug.
Then came the introductions. Jacob had not married up until the time he had left when he was more than seventy years old. But now Esau could see a sizable group of women, teenagers, and children behind him. One by one, he called each woman and her children forward and introduced them to his brother.
Pray with Me
Father, this was all completely unexpected by Jacob. He was prepared for the worst, and actually had no expectation that he would come out of the encounter with Esau alive. All the signs were against any kind of positive outcome. But You had promised to protect Jacob, and you were even working in the heart of Esau and his men to bring about that positive outcome. It’s hard for us to understand how much you can actually do to move the hearts and minds of people to accomplish our goals. Lord, like Jacob, we can be slow to learn and far too self-reliant. Help me to trust you more fully to do all that you have promised to do. Amen.