[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″][et_pb_row][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text admin_label=” “Jacob Obeys and Finds Forgiveness and Favor” Gen. 33 1-20 March 18 2018″ _builder_version=”3.0.100″ background_layout=”light”]
(1) Walk Thru The Word for Today: Gen. 33: 1-2 (ESV)
(Jacob Jumps In Front of His Family to Be The First to Meet Esau)
11And 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. 2And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. 3He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
(2) Walk Thru The Word for Today: Gen. 33: 4-7 (ESV) (Esau Embraces Jacob)
4But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. 5And 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.” 6Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down. 7Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down. And last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down.
(3) Gen 33: 8-11 (Jacob Finds Favor w/ Esau)
8Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company that I met?” Jacob answered, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” 9But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” 10Jacob 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. 11Please 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.
(4) Walk Thru The Word for Today: Genesis 32: 12–14 (ESV)
(Jacob Evades Esau’s Accompaniment)
12Then Esau said, “Let us journey on our way, and I will go ahead of you.” 13But 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. 14Let 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.”
(5) Walk Thru The Word for Today: Genesis 32: 15–17 (ESV)
(Jacob Journeys To Succoth)
15So 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.” 16So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
(6) Walk Thru The Word for Today: Genesis 33: 18-20 (ESV)
(Jacob Pays for Land To Pitch His Tent & Erect An Altar)
18And 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. 19And 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. 20There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel. (ale el-o-hay’ yis-raw-ale’)
(7) Message map: Genesis 33: 1–20
Jacob Obeys To Find Forgiveness & Favor!
- Jacob Left Home as a selfish Grasper & Returns As a Gracious Giver
- Jacob Leads his family as a Self-Sacrificing Servant
- Jacob Follows God As A Determined Disciple Who Doesn’t Quit Despite Hardship and Potential for Conflict
- Jacob Is Our Example of The Price One Pays To Be A Prince Who Prevails With God & Finds Forgiveness & Favor!”
(8) Jacob Left Home As A Selfish Grasper
The last time Esau had any dealings with Jacob, was in Gen 27: 5-29, when Jacob dressed in Esau’s clothing to connive their father Isaac out of Esau’s blessing.
The events of Jacob Jumping on Esau’s Blessing included …
- In Gen 27: 5 – 17 Rebekah hatches the plot for Jacob to pretend he is his brother to wrest the blessing from him.
- In Gen 27:12 Jacob says, “Perhaps my father will feel me, and I shall seem to be mocking him and bring a curse upon myself and not a blessing.” Jacob is not connected about right and wrong but about getting caught.
- In Gen 27: 13 Rebekah says, “Let your curse be on me, my son; only obey my voice, and go, bring them to me.”
- It is God and not Rebekah Who controls who gets cursed for sin. Rebekah’s curse is she’ll never see her son again.
- Regardless of Rebekah, Jacob was born a sinful heal grasper, who in Gen 25:26 “came out [of the womb] … holding Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob, meaning “cheating heal catcher.”
(9) Jacob Returns As a Gracious Giver
Jacob graciously gave Esau 550 animal gifts, and perhaps servants to care for them that Jacob gave Esau in Gen 32: 13-21 was accepted and perhaps appeased Esau’s former anger and convinced him Jacob had changed.
Jacob explains his change in Gen 31: 4-13 and 38-42, how he has grown from a selfish grasper to a selfless go-getter, who worked on Laban’s ever changing terms.
In verses 7-13 and 42, Jacob gives God Glory and credit for prospering him despite Laban’s conniving and constantly changing his wage structure.
(10) Gen. 32: 3-6
Jacob Is Challenged To Adhere To God’s Plan Despite Esau’s Advance with 400 Men
In Gen. 32: 3-6 Esau’s response to Jacob’s messengers announcing that he has his own 5… oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants is 6is to ride out to meet Jacob with four hundred (400) men.
Reasons Esau does this may include …
- he doesn’t trust Jacob has anything, since he’s lied to obtain Issac’s blessing, maybe he’s lying now.
- he’s going to make sure Jacob is not coming to claim the inheritance of the physical possessions Esau has been taking care of these past 20 years.
- he’s a man of his word and is preparing to kill Jacob.
- Jacob is about to get what he deserves from Esau.
(11) Gen 32: 7-12 Jacob is Distressed, Divides His people & Prays for deliverance
Gen. 32: 7 7Then Jacob was greatly afraid and Distressed. He strategically Divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps, 8hoping one may escape Esau. [bctt tweet=”So to take this one step further. We ask ourselves: “In what area of my life can I turn over to the Holy Spirit to grow me into a better disciple who endures the hardship of either 1) not giving into the flesh or 2) risk taking the heat for witnessing about what Christ has done in my life; or 3) growing in more skillful use of God’s word and walking in faith to fulfill the ministry God is calling me into? ” username=”LibertyCF3″]
Jacob’s prayer for Divine Deliverance involves …
- 9Reminding God that He told him to ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ (Gen 28:13-15 & 31: 3)
- At LCF right now we are facing a challenge looking to God to grow this church and expand the effort to apply the Bible to all of life. We believe God called us to start this church, and we’ve actually moved 3 times. God may be calling us to move again, and we need to discern this, and see what doors He is opening as to where we should go. We also are being tried with patience as we wait on God to fulfill this process.
- humbly 10Recognizing, his unworthiness and God’s steadfast love and faithfulness,
- In Luke 18: 9He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: 10“Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
- fervently and honestly 11Requesting Divine deliverance. Jacob honestly states his fear of Esau.
In Gen. 32: 9—12 Jacob admits he is afraid. The Bible always tells us to fear not, but I do not see in the Bible where God punishes people for being afraid — as if fear is a sin. The sin is not to obey though we are afraid.
People who preach that fear is a sin have one verse theology, in my opinion, as they build it off Job 3:25 where he says, “For the thing which I greatly feared has come upon me” (KJV). So people say if you fear something, it will happen to you. But that is not what the Bible says. In Job 1:5 we see Job actually was sacrificing for the sins of his children, “For Job said, “It may be that my children have sinned, and cursed God in their hearts.” Thus Job did continually,” so who knows what Job’s children were doing at their parties that made him fearful they would be cursed by God.
9And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O LORD who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ 10I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. 11Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. 12But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”
Jacob honestly acknowledged the fear he was feeling, and God answered his prayer without rebuking, chastising nor correcting him!
(12) Gen 33: 1- 3 Jacob Leads his family as a Self-Sacrificing Servant
Genesis 33:1 “And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him.
After Jacob prays, he still must obey God and move forward in the face of a 400 man challenge.
Jacob divides his family into the 4 motherly units, but this is not a cowardly act because…
“He himself WENT ON Before THEM, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.” (Genesis 33:3), showing selfless sacrificial leadership. Jacob bowed showing humility and deference.
Jacob is challenged to obey and continue in God’s plan, despite the prospect of Esau coming with 400 men. Perhaps there’s a 400 man obstacle in your life right now, and you are challenged to move forward, despite it?
Jacob bows to show respect and submission to his older brother.
(13) Jacob Sees in Esau The Face of God’s Forgiveness Gen 33: 10
In Genesis 33:10 when “Jacob says, to Esau “…For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me,” he means…
I see God at work in how Esau has accepted me to do me no harm as God promised.
(14) Jacob Finds favor (Gen 33: 8, 10 & 15)
In Gen 33 8, 10 & 15 Jacob finds favor meaning he obtains ….
(I placed lines for you to insert whatever notes you prefer from the a-d choices here, or write whatever you prefer.)
- approval for support and advancement from God
- preferential treatment from God
- acceptance in Esau’s sight who is satisfied that Jacob has paid off the debt from the offense he committed, as in the 20 year exile is sufficient punishment.
- grace with God and man – as in Luke 2:52 “And Jesus grew/increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
(15) Jacob Follows God As A Determined Disciple
Jacob follows God as a Determined disciple who doesn’t quit despite hardship and potential for conflict. (A disciple determined not to quit!)
The hardships Jacob endured included which of the following…
- his mom leading him astray to trick his father
- his dad forgetting God’s prophecy that the older (Esau) would serve the younger (Jacob)
- fleeing his family alone (Gen 27 & 28)
- being tricked by Laban into marrying 2 wives (Gen 29)
- being cheated by Laban who changed his wages ten times (Gen 31:6).
- being accused by Laban of stealing the family idols (Gen 31: 25-42)
(16) Gen 32: 28 Jacob is Jacob is an Example Of How Discipleship requires enduring hardship
Discipleship Hardship is suffering and enduring evil painful affliction that seems to be a “setback” but really isn’t, because Rom 8:28 says, God is working all things together for good. (2Cor 6:4, 2Tim 1: 8, 2Tim 2:3, 2Tim 2:12, 2Tim 4:5, Ps 71:20, Heb 12:7, Rom 8:28)
- 2Cor 6:4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities,” (ESV)
- 2Tim 1: 8 Be not ashamed therefore of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but suffer hardship with the gospel according to the power of God; (NAS)
- 2Tim 2:3 Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus (NAS)
- 2Tim 2:12 If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. (NLT)
- 2Tim 4:5 “endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.” (NIV)
- Ps 71:20 You have allowed me to suffer much hardship, but you will restore me to life again and lift me up from the depths of the earth (NLT)
- Heb 12:7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? (NIV)
Rom 8:28 28And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose.
(17) Jacob pitched his tent & erected an altar
18And 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. 19And 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. 20There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.
The altar is named El-Elohe-Israel (pronounced – ale el-o-hay’ yis-raw-ale’)) meaning “the mighty God of Israel.” which is Jacob identifying with the name God gave him in Gen 32:28 saying Jacob has striven/contended/persevered with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
Jude 1:3 says “…contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints. To contend means to “struggle upon, appropriately”), i.e. with skill and commitment in opposing whatever is not of faith (God’s persuasion)
So to take this one step further. We ask ourselves: “In what area of my life can I turn over to the Holy Spirit to grow me into a better disciple who endures the hardship of either 1) not giving into the flesh or 2) risk taking the heat for witnessing about what Christ has done in my life; or 3) growing in more skillful use of God’s word and walking in faith to fulfill the ministry God is calling me into?
(18) Let’s Pray that God Works In Us To Make Us More Dedicated Disciples!!
Let’s Pray: God work in us to make us the kind of people who will trust and obey through every circumstance you bring and allow into our lives! [email-download-link namefield=”YES” id=”258″]
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