Genesis 33

What do you see when you lift up your eyes? Do you see an Esau coming toward you with four hundred strong men? Looking further out, who do you see? Is the return of the Lord Jesus and the coming of the heavenly host on your mind? Who are you looking for and waiting for? Is it only some near-term danger that you fear, or are you aware that any present trouble is not worth comparing to the glory that is coming your way?

Jacob is limping toward Esau as a man who has been blessed by God. He did everything he could to smooth the way for his reunion with his twin brother. Along the way he met a mysterious Man from God, a representative of the Almighty. Has the perfect love of God cast out some of the fear that had consumed Jacob at the contemplation of his reunion with the brother who had once wanted to kill him?

Jacob presented himself to his brother as a servant before a man who is far greater than him, bowing himself to the ground seven times. Esau's reaction was very different. He approached Jacob with enthusiasm and brotherly affection. This is great news! Esau embraced Jacob and kissed him. He was happy to see his prosperity, and wanted nothing from Jacob's wealth. After twenty years with Laban, and an awareness of his own deceptions, Jacob can be excused for not entirely trusting the motives of Esau. Nonetheless, Esau appears to be sincere in his positive enthusiasm for Jacob at their reunion.

Jacob testifies to the truth about all the blessing that He has received. These are “the children whom God has graciously given.” Laban, Jacob's father-in-law had insisted that Jacob's family and possessions were really property of Laban. Jacob knows that God is the one who has kindly supplied in such a rich manner.

As it turned out, all of the staged messengers of benevolence and generosity toward Esau were not necessary. Esau was not nearly as big a problem for Jacob as his own stubborn insistence to do things his own way. But God has blessed Jacob. He has been humbled, and he is a different man than the one who left Canaan two decades before.

Esau insists that he does not need anything from his brother. “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” Jacob wisely persists in his plan to give a gift to Esau. He is so thankful to hear the news that his brother is happy with his return, that he is very ready to give up some of his possessions in order to exchange this tangible sign of friendship and peace. To see the face of Esau at peace with him again is like seeing the face of God. Jacob is accepted.

Now look beyond Esau once again, and see the face of Jesus coming toward you. Is He coming in love with His heavenly host? Isn't it a fact that the wrath of Almighty God was once coming toward you with death and hell close behind? Yet now you see the judge of the living and the dead coming toward you in peace, because of the blood of the cross. He embraces you with joy. He kisses you as a brother. He wants to be near you forever. He does not need any of your gifts. He has gifts and great blessings for you. Your reunion with Him can be very happy.

Jacob was still unsure as to whether he could really trust this new friendly Esau. He seems to invent an excuse as to why they cannot journey together. He will not settle in the same place as his brother. Esau will go back to Mt. Seir which is in the land of Edom. He would have left some servants to help Jacob on his journey, but Jacob refuses the offer. He travels instead to a different place, Succoth, and then Shechem in Canaan, and sets up a life for himself and his family there.

How do you feel about the entreaties of Jesus toward you today? Can you take Him at His Word? He says that He will be with you always, and that He will take you to heaven. He insists that where He is you also will be. He tells you that He has prepared a place in heaven for you. He says that He can send His servants, the holy angels, to watch over you on your way to this life, lest you dash your foot against a stone. Do you trust Him? Will you open your heart to His promises? Will you open your ears to His words that He speaks to your soul?

Jacob could not really trust Esau. The history of his brother's hatred for him was still fresh in his mind after twenty years. He knew about Esau's resentment concerning Isaac's blessing. It was very possible that Esau was still very unwilling to believe God's Word to his mother Rebekah, that the older son, Esau, would serve the younger son, Jacob.

You have no similar reason to distrust Jesus Christ. He has never done you any wrong. Everything that you have is a gift from Him. He gave His life so that you will be with Him forever. You can trust Him to bring you into eternal habitations in the Lord's greatest land of promise. He will bless you in the home that He has for you above. You can certainly trust Him to lead you now on the remainder of your journey home. You can believe Jesus. He is the Son of God, and the God and King of Israel.