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 166 - "Lead the wandering back to truth" - James 5:19-20

James 5:19   My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, 20 let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins.

We conclude our study in James with one final sentence of James that is divided into two verses. This entire letter has been James’ attempt to correct ideas, attitudes, and actions that had found their way into the lives of these believers to whom James is addressing. Key among these problems are pride, inappropriate speech to others, and believing that a life of faith could be void of works consistent with what they claim to believe. They were self-centered and not honoring the Lord or serving others.

James’ conclusion is an extension of mercy and hope for redemption of such people who have allowed these things to characterize their lives. It seems that this concluding sentence may shed some light on what he meant in the preceding verses that spoke of those who were sick and the value of confessing sin and praying for healing. (James 5:14-16) Let’s look at this more closely.

James speaks of two kinds of people. There are those who “wander from the truth.” These are people who curse or judge others. They treat some people with a preference, to the neglect and abuse of others, because of money or social status. Some of these people may gain or use their wealth by defrauding others. They exude jealousy and selfishness. Here James is speaking to the second kind of people. They are the ones he encourages to be instruments of mercy and redemption by bringing the first group back to the truth and the way of Jesus.

James tells these Christians they have a responsibility and privilege to be agents of redemption. He says, “let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death . . . “ (v. 20) In our society today, our culture values independence and a “do what feels good to you” attitude. We have a “mind your own business, and I’ll mind mine” attitude that pervades much of our society today. Therefore, James’ counsel is in direct contrast to our societal values. His instruction insists that we have a great responsibility to attempt to lead people back to the truth. We should not be uncaring of the consequences of people’s actions. Why? Because it could lead to their death. Maybe that’s why he spoke of sick people and their need to confess their sins. They should have the elders pray and anoint the sick with oil in the name of the Lord. Through this kind of ministry, they are able to lead these people back to the truth and healing through God’s mercy.

But that is not all that is accomplished by leading a brother or sister in Christ back to the truth. He says this act of redemption “will cover a multitude of sins.” The sins are paid for by the blood of Jesus when he died on the cross. But, if that wandering soul returns to the truth, he is appropriating the forgiveness available to him that restores his fellowship with God. The apostle John wrote in his first letter, 

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 6 If we say we have fellowship with him while we walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1:5-10)

John’s teaching supports James' teaching. True Christian fellowship with each other and God requires that we walk in the light of Christ and his truth. When we sin, Jesus is ready and willing to receive our confession, forgive us, and cleanse us from our unrighteousness. 

Prayer: Heavenly Father - Help me walk in the truth of Jesus and in humility toward you and my fellow believers. Let me have the courage to humbly lead others back to your truth.