Read: Genesis 32:13-34:31; Matthew 11:7-30: Psalm 14:1-7; Proverbs 3:19-20
After Jacob reminded God of all he had promised him, he came up with an idea. He picked 55 cattle as a present to Esau. He divided his people into two camps and put his most loved in the second camp in case Esau killed the first. The first was to be a present to soothe Esau’s anger.
That night Jacob wrestled with a man who represented God on earth. When the man/God could not win he knocked Jacob’s hip out of socket. Jacob refused to let him go until he blessed him. God changed his name to Israel because he had wrestled with both God and man and lived. Israel means “he shall be a prince of God” which was a huge step up from “supplanter” which was what Jacob means. When Jacob asked him his name he questioned why and left Jacob with a blessing. Jacob knew he had seen the face of God and named the place Penuel which means “face of God.”
Jacob and Esau did have their encounter and it was better than Jacob could have dreamed. Esau had no animosity but was happy to see Jacob. Jacob bowed before him and insisted he take the cattle as his gift. Esau finally agreed and they parted brothers.
Jacob went to Succot which is another name for booths or tabernacles. He set up booths for his animals as a picture of the feast that God would set up years later to represent his heavenly tabernacle. I think that Jacob and Esua’s reunion is a picture of what reunion with our loved ones will be like. All prior disagreements will no longer have any weight or remembrance there.
The story of Dinah is tragic. Dinah went out to make friends with the townspeople but was raped by the ruler’s son, Shechem. Even though he defiled her by force, he fell in love with her and wanted to marry her. He went to her father, Jacob to ask for her hand. Jacob had heard that she was raped and her brothers Simeon and Levi came up with a plan. They told the men of the town that they would intermarry if they were circumcized. This was a small price to pay for the advantage their town would have in making a covenant with Jacob and sharing his wealth and daughters. They agree and on the third day, when the men were especially hurting, Levi and Simeon came in and slaughtered all the men, took Dinah back and looted the town. When Jacob found out he was so upset and feared that they had caused him to be an enemy to the other towns. Levi and Simeon didn’t care because they had defended their sister of a horrible crime.
In Matthew, Jesus defends John’s ministry. John was uncompromising, and a great prophet - the last of the Old Testament prophets. He was the one to issue Jesus’ ministry in. Jesus rebuked the people for wanting everything their way. They had criticized him and John for the opposite reasons and would be judged by their pettiness. They had been given much, so in eternity much would be required of them.
Lord, help us to be grateful for the revelation we have available to walk in. Forgive us of our silly complaints. Help us to recognize the day we live in and walk wisely.
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