Year 1, Day 32: Genesis 33

Jacob vs. Israel

Now it would seem to be the time for Jacob to become Israel.  But, you will notice that he doesn’t quite live up to the task.  Personally, I feel a little middle-of-the-road concerning Jacob.  He has moved a little bit with respect to living a godly life, but he is certainly not yet Israel, as evidenced by the fact that the Bible continues to call him Jacob even after he wrestles with God.

Let’s surge ahead with his good points.  Jacob does present himself to Esau before Esau can get to his family.  Although he has put his flocks and servants ahead of him and in the line of fire, at least Jacob does own up to his responsibility before his family is put in danger.  So, I’ll give him a “pass” on that – although certainly that pass is more like a C+ rather than an A.

Jacob also bowed seven times according to the middle-eastern custom.  This, too, seems like a good thing.  At the very least, it shows that Jacob is not demanding to be in charge.

We should also analyze the potential issues with the custom of bowing.  Is he really bowing out of sincerity?  Does he sincerely wish to show himself subservient to Esau – which is what the custom implies? Or is there something more deep at work? 

Could it be that Jacob is trying to manipulate his brother into reducing his anger?  Could it be that Jacob is bowing in subservience to hide that he has a limp and is in a weakened state?  We really don’t know, but knowing Jacob’s past I do have to raise the question.  I think this is one case where Jacob knows the right thing to do and actually does it, but his motives might not be as pure as we would like them to be.

If we look at Jacob’s testimony, we can further see that he is still trying to make his own way rather than trust in God’s promises.  Although Esau makes a genuine expression of forgiveness and refuses Jacob’s gifts, Jacob still convinces Esau to have them.  Is this Jacob asking for repentance from his brother or is this the old Jacob still trying to manipulate and deflect his brother’s wrath?  Is Jacob trying to be genuine or still trying to buy his brother’s loyalty?

Furthermore, let’s look specifically at Jacob’s testimony.  Jacob tells Esau that he will travel behind him at a slower pace so that his animals and children would not be strained.  Esau must hear these words and assume that Jacob will head south towards Edom where the mountain of Seir is to be found.  However, we see in the account that Jacob does not actually do this.  Instead, Jacob intentionally stays far more north of Esau in the region of Succoth on the Jabbok River.  His words sound convincing to Esau, but his actions do not actually follow his words.

As I said yesterday, this actually makes Jacob real.  How often do you see people that make an instantaneous change in their life and they are able to completely change in the span of 24 hours?  Not many, I’ll tell you that much.  Change takes time.  Change is a process.  Jacob clearly has a long way to go.  Jacob may still not be in the right frame of mind, but at least we can see in his words and in his actions a glimmer of hope of change.

Esau’s Change

Now, we do actually see a marked change in Esau.  Things have apparently gone well for him.  He runs to meet Jacob, which is not the action to be taken by someone who is angry or cautious about falling into a trap.  Esau genuinely welcomes his brother – and even offers to protect his journey!  I hate to say it, but it looks like Esau has learned more during life than Jacob so far.  Esau has always been impulsive, but at least here he is proving that he does not hold a grudge like he used to in his youth.  Esau has gotten past his anger and is willing to give Jacob another chance.

When God gets hold of people, change occurs.  But that change may take a while.  Human experience tells us that it is a process of “two steps forward and one step back.”  The important point to remember is not to judge the outcome, but the motivation. 

Conclusions

So long as people are genuinely trying to improve themselves to be in line with God’s ways, we must extend grace to them for when they make mistakes.  We must, of course, because we would hope the same grace is extended to us.  The question we have to ask is simple: what were Jacob’s motivations?  Are they pure, or are they still rooted in the old Jacob?  What about Esau’s motivations?  Are they the fruit of change?

Jacob is not yet there, but he is at least moving in the right direction.  Lord willing God can say the same about you and me. 

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