SCRIPTURE: Genesis 33
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
God works ahead of us, without our even knowing it. Jacob was driven by fear, not faith. He was certain that Esau was still out to get him, and that is a logical assumption. But he did not reckon on God. God is at work in situations that we think are impossible. God is always up to something. It wasn’t until he experienced this unexpected, miraculous welcome from his estranged brother that he realizes this.
This meeting with his brother is like “seeing the face of God”? Jacob had just seen God “face to face” in his wrestling match at the Jabbok. Now he sees God in this reunion. God is at work here, God is up to something. It’s a God-moment, a miracle only explainable by God.
We often fail to see this. We act as if God is distant or passive, except for the occasional miracle or intervention (too infrequent for our taste). But if we have eyes of faith (not fear), we can see God’s fingerprints on all of life. He is at work behind the scenes to accomplish His purpose. He is not on the sidelines, He is the main player. We are His partners.
When we move into a situation, it is helpful to remind ourselves that God has already been at work there. I do not need to start something for God, I need to join God in what He is doing. He is fulfilling His mission, He is working in peoples’ hearts (yes, also in the hearts of non-Christian and non-religious people). Everything is working out to fulfill His plan.
God is not limited to our abilities, He is not dependent on our scheming. We are to present ourselves and our gifts, our measly 5 loaves and 2 fish (not enough to feed the masses), then multiplies it for His purpose. He is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine. It takes eyes of faith to see beyond the obvious to the potential of God… and to move forward accordingly.
PRAYER:
Lord, thank You for Your greatness. Thank You for letting me see glimpses of Your face in my life. I want to see You more… everywhere!
Self deserving, Jacob does feel the intensity of tension as he approaches his brothers company. Jacob does everything he is capable of in trying to curve the inevitable in his mind … all he remembers is the hatred that his brother wishes on his life for the deception he played on him and on their father.
So control-freak Jacob sends out the gift parade. Then he plans an escape flight of dividing his family into two parties, just in case … all tactical, all devices to succomb the circumstances… all things that would help control a situation that seems to have too many elements of variability.
But then it falls to the actual moment in verse 3 … “he came near to his brother”
As I approach verse 4, there is like this long, breath in, and wonderment … what will be Esau’s reaction? …. all the fear built up from the past, all the assumptions of retaliation and hatred … in Jacobs mind, he cannot think anything but that Esau is still the same man he was from years past …
But then you have it …
“Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept”
How beautiful … how unexpected in Jacobs mind.
How undeserving … how gracious
How so very much like the Prodigal son welcomed by his father …
Restoration is a beautiful thing – it takes two. How willing am I to allow God to change my heart and allow forgiveness to melt my hardened heart… God desires to change us … to not let us stay where we are … am I willing to see that in others and realize they can be changed by God as well?
LORD, thank You for being a God who is constantly at work in our lives, in and through all situations circumstances, a part of every detail of our lives.
LORD, as these scriptures reveal it is possible to forgive and embrace those whom have wronged us instead of allowing bitterness to consume us and fester in our hearts. LORD there is so much unforgiveness in our world, please teach us Your ways and pour out Your Spirit so that we too may have forgiving hearts and desire to live in peace as far as it depends on us.
LORD, we see in these verses once again, that Jacob responds in fear. Fear is always quick to overcome us if we let it. LORD, protect us from fear. Pour out Your confidence into our hearts so that we may surrender every difficult and uncertain situation in our lives over to You. Then LORD, we too will see Your face. I want to see You LORD every day in all things.
Jacob divided his family from maid servants to Rachel, from least loved to best loved. God is my God, but I still yet need to work out my defense. I put my trust in the Lord, but . . . God is at work. The two embraced and Jacob did admit once again that God was at work. Here the brothers are united who once wanted to commit murder. The Lord can turn all hearts toward home – mold them for His purposes. And Jacob once again stated that the Lord God blessed him with all his material wealth – and freely gives it away. They parted as brothers, but yet separate because they lifestyles were different. And when Jacob arrived at his destination he built an altar and worshipped the God whose presence was experienced in the return.
Oh Master let me walk with Thee the song goes, yet in my pilgrim’s progress of the day, with Whom am I walking? Do I rely on my own power and resources or do I continue to keep my hand placed in God’s hand. Although I start the day with devotions and prayer, where is my God in my daily action. Thanks Norm for teaching me to ask the question, Where did I see Jesus today? Although I do have ‘memory stones’ with me at all times to remind me of God’s faithfulness (WWJD – sayings on the wall in poster form), all to often I too have eyes and do not see and ears that do not hear – seeing and hearing the presence of God all around me. Help me always to wear my Biblical glasses so that I may truly see as I work this day in Your kingdom.
O Master, let me walk with Thee,
In lowly paths of service free;
Tell me Thy secret; help me bear
The strain of toil, the fret of care.
Help me the slow of heart to move
By some clear, winning word of love;
Teach me the wayward feet to stay,
And guide them in the homeward way.
Teach me Thy patience; still with Thee
In closer, dearer, company,
In work that keeps faith sweet and strong,
In trust that triumphs over wrong.