Episode 300 - "Jacob and Esau are reunited in peace" - Genesis 33

Gen. 33:1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants. 2 And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. 3 He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

Gen. 33:4 But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. 5 And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” 6 Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down. 7 Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down. And last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down. 8 Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company that I met?” Jacob answered, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” 9 But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” 10 Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me. 11 Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Thus he urged him, and he took it.

Gen. 33:12 Then Esau said, “Let us journey on our way, and I will go ahead of you.” 13 But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and that the nursing flocks and herds are a care to me. If they are driven hard for one day, all the flocks will die. 14 Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will lead on slowly, at the pace of the livestock that are ahead of me and at the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.”

Gen. 33:15 So Esau said, “Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” 16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17 But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.

Gen. 33:18 And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city. 19 And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, he bought for a hundred pieces of money the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent. 20 There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.

I don’t know about you. But up to this point, my assessment of Esau is that he is what we might call a “loose cannon.” Not only did he quickly and easily disregard his birthright by trading it for a bowl of stew, he also intentionally married three wives in disregard, and to spite his parents.

The question at hand in our story is whether or not he is going to attempt to fulfill his vow to kill his brother Jacob. It could be said that there’s not much to like about Esau as far as we know from the greater narrative. For that matter, Jacob is portrayed as an opportunist and a cheat. So, we wouldn’t necessarily vote for him as “man of the year” either. So, it’s confusing when we read passages like Malachi 1:2-3 and Paul’s quotation of it in Romans 9:13 where the LORD says, “Jacob I have loved, but Esau I have hated.” We ask ourselves first, “Is that true?” and secondly, “Is that fair of God?” Why would God hate Esau any more than Jacob?

God’s warning through Moses to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 2 can help us understand this. Beginning with Jacob and Rachel’s son Joseph, the Israelites would spend 400 years in Egypt before God led them out back toward the Promised Land. Due to the faithless and rebellious actions of the Israelites, God made them wander in the wilderness for 40 years. That area is near the land that God gave to Esau. When they were about to enter the land, God told them to use caution as they passed through Seir (Edom) because the LORD had given that land to Esau. They were not to create any trouble with them, but to buy things from them instead and be peaceable. Esau had been dead for a long time. Yet, the LORD was telling the Israelites to honor their brothers, the descendants of Esau. That sounds like a far cry from God “hating” Esau, doesn’t it? What’s going on? The statement in Malachi is made many years after the Israelites returned to the land. Over time, the Edomites, Esau’s descendants, became enemies of Israel and looted Jerusalem after Babylon destroyed it. Therefore, the statement in Malachi is the LORD expressing his judgment upon Esau’s descendants who chose to become enemies of Israel and, therefore, of God. It’s not some arbitrary bias directed at Esau personally.

The apostle Paul’s use of quoting this passage is simply to express God’s right to do as he wishes. So, we have essential truths revealed that remind us that God is God and we’re not. God is the one who decides what is good and right, and we will do well to remember that and trust that the LORD makes good and right decisions. More relevant to the immediate story we are in, just because Esau did things that were stupid, irresponsible, and to spite his parents and God, it didn’t mean that God disowned him. God gave him a land and wanted Jacob’s descendants not to disregard them because they were also descendants of Abraham and Isaac. What might seem unfair at a cursory glance is actually grace to Esau. The fact that later generations of Esau violated that desired relationship brought righteous discipline upon them.

And what do we see in this story when Jacob and Esau finally meet after 20 years of separation? Esau runs to meet and welcome Jacob back. There is redemption and blessing for both of them. This is what the LORD intended for them and, I believe, for us. The LORD blessed Jacob, leading him into faith and wanting to bless his brother and to establish a peaceful relationship. The LORD loved Jacob and Esau and blessed each of them according to his omniscient and gracious will.

Through the cross of Christ, God has done the same with us. He doesn’t hold our past offenses against us. He leads us to faith, blesses us, and brings us into a relationship of peace with God.

Episode 135 - "Peace be with you" - John 20:19-23

John 20:19   On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

What a day! Their teacher and Lord had been crucified a few days earlier and his followers might wonder if the people responsible for that would be coming after them next. Then, Mary Magdalene showed up immediately after the end of the Sabbath and reported that Jesus’ tomb was empty. Peter and John ran off to investigate this and came back talking about what they saw at the tomb; the grave clothes lying there and the orderly scene. Would the Jewish leaders be coming after them accusing them that they had stolen the body? That would be a very real concern.  They locked the doors to inhibit anyone from walking in.

While they were there together, Jesus appeared in the room with them. I can only imagine the thoughts that were running through their minds. Jesus’ first words to them were “Peace be with you.” (v. 19) How they needed that message. Jesus knew exactly what was going on in their minds and was aware of their fears. He also knew they were questioning their own senses. So, he showed them his hands and side to provide evidence this body they were looking at was real and was the one on the cross and put into the tomb a few days earlier. They were not seeing a ghost or a figment of their imagination. Jesus had physically risen from the dead and yet was not prevented by locked doors and walls from being with them. Furthermore, the first thing he wanted to give them was peace. He said it again, “Peace be with you.” 

According to John’s account, Jesus did not field questions about his resurrection or anything else. Instead, he focused on the purpose he had for the disciples. They needed his peace because he had a mission for them they were to follow. He said, “As the Father has sent me, even so, I am sending you.” (v. 21) Throughout this entire book, John has reported that Jesus was neither doing nor teaching anything on his own behalf. He was only teaching and doing what was given to him by his heavenly Father. The mission of his disciples is to continue taking God’s message and doing the work that God is sending them to do. 

How would they be able to do this? They were just blue-collar workers, average people. The answer lies in what Jesus did next. He breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit.” Jesus had been telling them this was going to happen. Back in John 16 he spoke of sending them the Advocate who is the “Spirit of truth” who will “guide you into all truth.” (John 16:13) Now is the time when Jesus is initiating this sending of the Holy Spirit to his disciples.

This passage has created no end of controversy among believers who get confused about Jesus giving the Holy Spirit here and the account of the disciples receiving the Holy Spirit in Acts 2. Personally, I don’t take this as two different acts of God giving the Holy Spirit. As I see this, God has sovereignly orchestrated this chain of events to best teach and prepare Jesus’ disciples for the ministry He has in mind for them. Jesus taught them about things to come. Yet, people don’t always fully understand what others are teaching us. This happens often between parents and their children. Parents teach the children things that the child cannot fully understand. But, if the child understands the parent loves them and looks out for their best interest, they “accept” it to a measure of belief. Later the child may experience something when that teaching is more understood and appreciated. That happens because of the context of the experience and now the child’s trust in the parent’s advice increases because they realize the wisdom that was offered to them and that the parent was looking out for them. 

In the same way, this recent trauma of experiencing Jesus’ death and now his resurrection is beginning to sink in with everything Jesus had been teaching them. Now is the perfect time to reiterate his mission for them and to give them the Holy Spirit to help them accomplish this mission according to what Jesus had already taught them. They are now more prepared to understand and accept this mission. Jesus had the authority to give them the Holy Spirit. Yet, it would be a little longer before they experienced the filling of the Holy Spirit. God’s plan was to accomplish that in its own perfect timing at Pentecost when they would boldly proclaim the Good News of Jesus and thousands would respond. 

Under the leading of the Holy Spirit, what should they do or say? What was this mission? I think that’s what verse 23 is about. Jesus added, “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.” Jesus’ death on the cross is about the forgiveness of sins. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. (John 1:29) Jesus’ death has made it possible for the sins of mankind to be forgiven. That is truly good news! Some have argued that this statement is only for the apostles, that this is an apostolic privilege. I disagree. In teaching his disciples to pray, Jesus said to pray “forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.” (Luke 11:4) As followers of Jesus, we should forgive the sins of others understanding that we are simply spokespersons for the Lord. It is the Lord who forgives them. 

In summary, let us receive the peace given by Jesus, walk by means of the Holy Spirit, and communicate to others the forgiveness of sin against God available to us through the perfect sacrifice of His Son Jesus on the cross.

Episode 111 - Joy and Peace in Jesus - John 16:22-33

22 So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. 23 In that day you will ask nothing of me. Truly, truly, I say to you, whatever you ask of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24 Until now you have asked nothing in my name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

25   “I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures of speech but will tell you plainly about the Father. 26 In that day you will ask in my name, and I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27 for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. 28 I came from the Father and have come into the world, and now I am leaving the world and going to the Father.”

29   His disciples said, “Ah, now you are speaking plainly and not using figurative speech! 30 Now we know that you know all things and do not need anyone to question you; this is why we believe that you came from God.” 31 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32 Behold, the hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each to his own home, and will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone, for the Father is with me. 33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”

In the last episode, we covered verse 22, in which Jesus speaks of his disciples’ sorrow turned to joy which no one could take from them. I suggested that this experience begins at the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus’ words in verse 23 make so much sense in light of the joy they would experience after the depths of sorrow they would experience at his death. Jesus said, “In that day, you will ask nothing of me.” Why? Because their whole sense of belonging and purpose they had following Jesus is about to be crushed, then astonishingly restored beyond their imagination. Think about it. If you had a sense of joy that was so great and fulfilling that you could not think straight because it was overwhelming, what else could you possibly want? I believe this is what Jesus is telling them will happen.

Jesus also understands the ministry to which he will send them, and he understands that they will have needs. He assures them that whatever they ask in his name, the Father will give it to them. I don’t know about you. But, this promise is difficult for me to believe. I think to myself, “If I ask for a Tesla or some other luxury item, surely I won’t receive that.” I’m doubtful that saying “In Jesus’ name” is some kind of magic that gets me whatever I want. What is Jesus promising his disciples?

I believe that Jesus’ promise is true. However, Jesus’ words to his disciples reveal that he knows exactly what is going to happen to them. He knows what they will need and how the Holy Spirit will minister to them and lead them in faith and obedience to the mission Jesus is giving them. When they ask for something “in Jesus’ name,” their requests will be with the understanding of Jesus’ identity and the mission to which he has assigned them. Their requests will neither be arbitrary nor selfish. 

If that weren’t enough, notice that in verses 25-28, Jesus explains to them that the Father is not going to give it to them because Jesus asks the Father on their behalf. Jesus explains to them that the Father himself loves them, and the Father understands that they have followed and believed in Jesus. 

Despite the faith these disciples have had in Jesus, Jesus confronts their self-confidence by explaining that an hour is coming when they will all scatter and leave Jesus alone (v. 32). Does the Father not know this? Of course, He does. Yet, He still loves Jesus’ disciples despite their failures. Jesus explains they will have tribulation in this world, but they can have peace in the midst of that because Jesus has overcome the world. He has overcome the “darkness” and death. Jesus’ disciples can have peace knowing that ultimately we will no longer have to experience the darkness of this world and death. 

What does it mean to you that Jesus conquered death and his assurance that the Father loves you? Does it give you joy?