GENESIS 33
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.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. – Genesis 33:1-11
GENESIS 33 JACOB & ESAU REUNITED
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
As Jacob prepared himself to meet his brother Esau
There were concerns for him so he positioned servants
He made sure the servants and their children marched first
Then his wives and him and their children last.
In this account of the reunion of Jacob and Esau, we witness Jacob’s wise strategy to ease himself to meet the brother that he had cheated on. After being cheated himself for twenty years by Laban, he knows how Esau must have felt after he tricked him. We also see the hand of God in this reunion, as he reassured Jacob that he is not alone. All of Jacob’s fear was appeased when his brother came running towards him and hugged him and wept. It is a picture of God’s grace and mercy that Esau forgave his younger brother.
REFLECTION
- How was it possible that Esau forgot and forgave his brother after twenty years?
