THROUGH THE BIBLE COMMENTARY
This program of daily devotions is designed to take you through the Bible in three years. It is our desire to help you gain a better general understanding of God's Word.
Please understand that in a study this brief, we will be concerned with only the major emphases and context of the Scriptures.
Each day a devotion for one or two chapters is posted, beginning with chapter one of Genesis and going through chapter twenty-two of Revelation. You are free to print each page as it appears.
Bruce McGee, Pastor
205 Adams
Columbia, LA 71418
GENESIS
CHAPTER 33
1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. 2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. 3 And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
When Jacob saw Essau coming, he divided his family even
further into groups. Then he went before them himself.
Jacob personally demonstrated Eph. 5:25 which says,
"Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also love the
church, and GAVE Himself for it."
Notice the demonstration of humility in Jacob (vs 3).
It's an old saying but it's true: "The arrow flies over the
head of the man who kneels."
4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.
Now Essau had come a long way to meet Jacob. He had also come
with 400 men. But now his heart was softened.
God has the hearts of all men in His hand, and can
change attitudes in a moment.
I'm sure the words of Isaac came back to Essau
(see Gen. 27:40). Now that Essau had the "dominion" over
Jacob, he broke the "yoke" of servitude by giving
LOVE instead of hatred.
There is a good thing to remember here: hatred, grudgery,
etc. can be broken by GIVING LOVE.
5 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant. 6 Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves. 7 And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.
Jacob acknowledges that God has been gracious to him by giving him
such a large family and goods. And he spends time introducting
all of them to Essau.
8 And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord. 9 And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself. 10 And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. 11 Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.
Essau inquired about the large gifts Jacob had sent. He tried to
refuse them, but Jacob insists he keep them.
Notice how Jacob states this. He says these "gifts" are blessings
from GOD!
Christian friends, when we are able to share with others, we should
acknowledge that WHAT we share are blessings from GOD!
12 And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee. 13 And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die. 14 Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir. 15 And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord. 16 So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.
Look at the mutual consideration here. Essau offers to escort Jacob
through the land. He is offering to be Jacob's protector.
His offer might keep him away from home quite some time. This is a
generous offer, and kind.
However, Jacob realizes he has GOD as his PROTECTOR, and doesn't need
another. Rather than TELL that to Essau, he says he doesn't want to
hinder Essau with the slow process of moving his caravan. He tells
Essau to go ahead, and he and his family will follow.
Now whether Essau has HEARD it or not, two mighty principals have been
demonstrated to him today. First, blessings come from
God - not by might, power, work or intelligence. Second, God is all the
One other note here: see where Essau GOES - to Seir. That's where
he had settled his family and begun building an empire. It's important
to know this later.
17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. 18 And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan-aram; and pitched his tent before the city. 19 And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for an hundred pieces of money. 20 And he erected there an altar, and called it El-elohe-Israel.
Jacob first settled just North of the brook Jabbok and just East of the
Jordan in a place he called "Succoth." Succoth means "booths,"
or a temporary dwelling place. Now verse 18 tells us that Jacob
later traveled into Canaan land and settled in Shechem. The wording
of verse 18 makes better sense if we see what "Shalem" means.
It means safely or peace.
Jacob had finally come to that place of safety and peace.
He had left home in fear for his life. He had worked 20 years for his
wives and his flock. He had faced death by returning to face his
brother. But all he had done, he had done by following God's way.
Now, God has given him rest.
And that's the way it is with Christians today. AFTER we have
traveled through the world with fears, anxieties, pressures,
problems, turmoil, and even death -- God will give us REST!!
If you have access to a map of Israel in the times of the Patriarchs
you might want to trace these travels. It's a fun exercise, and
will give you a better insight into the Bible history of this
time.
Beersheba is 40 miles SW of Jerusalem, 70 miles SW of Shechem.
Beersheba is where Isaac was when Jacob went to Padanaram (Haran).
When Jacob was gone, Essau moved into Mt. Seir - some 50 or 60 miles
SE of where Isaac, his father lived.
Now, when Jacob returned from Haran, Essau gathered his army & rode
North to meeth Jacob. They met somewhere North of the Jabbok and
East of the Jordan.
When Essau left Jacob and returned to Mt. Seir, Jacob traveled
SW and stopped at the place called "Succoth."
Later, Jacob moved to Shechem, only a journey of about 30 miles.
This was Westward, across Jordan. It was here that Jacob built
his house. Here he dug a well, called "Jacob's Well." It was at
this well Jesus would meet a Samaritan woman some 2000 years later!
Isaac evidently moved some 20 miles Northeast to Hebron. So he and
Jacob are now only about 15 miles apart when Jacob moves to
Bethlehem. (See Gen. 35:16)
Finally, Jacob moved to Hebron to take over his father's place
when Isaac died. (see Gen. 37:14)
Please continue to follow along with us in Bible study.