“And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.”
King James Version (KJV)
GiGi again's comment on 2021-11-14 21:57:09:
...Jacob needed to follow God's way without outside influence. He traveled southwest to Succoth and built a residence there with shelters for his animals. This indicates he settled there for a time. Some time later, he crossed the Jordan, due east, to Shechem. He was now in Canaan. He built a residence there and bought this land form the family of Hamor. It was near the city. He built an altar there. In all of this time, these 20 years, God had kept Jacob safe in his journeys, blessed him with success in his endeavors and with wealth. He had guided him to Haran to the fields of Laban. He had secured Jacob both Leah and Rachel for wives, blessed him with 11 sons and a daughter, an amicable departure from Laban, and night of wrestling with God, a new name, and a peaceful reunion with his brother. Was Jacob now ready to call God by the name of God of Israel? Yes, he was. El Elohe Israel means: "God, the God of Israel". Jacob now accepted the True God as his God, the God of Israel, completing the process that began in Bethel and the dream/vision of the ladder to heaven. God proved Himself to Jacob, drawing Jacob to put his faith in Him. That took 20 years.
GiGi's comment on 2021-11-14 21:41:27:
And now we come to the meeting of Jacob and Esau, 20 years in the making! Jacob assumed that Esau had not changed in 20 years. But he had. He had wives and children of his own now. God had given Esau 6 sons and wealth. He was a leader among the inhabitants of Seir, where he moved to from Canaan some time ago.
By the time Jacob meets up with Esau, Jacob had caught up with his family. Upon seeing Esau in the distance with 400 men, Jacob divided his family up into 3 groups. It is interesting how he selected the order of the groups. It was obvious to us that he ordered them least loved to most loved. That must have spoke volumes to his wives and sons.
Jacob approached Esau in a respectful, customary way, stopping to bow and prostrate himself towards Esau 7 times. Not so for Esau. He ran to Esau and embraced him by the neck, kissed him and they wept having set off from the the south to meet Esau with 400 men, Esau may have intended to bring harm to Jacob or capture him together. But, perhaps, overnight, "wink, wink" something changed in Esau. What a healing moment! The meeting was joyous instead of tense. Esau was delighted to see that Jacob had been blessed with a large family with twice as many sons as he had.
They discussed the gift of animals Jacob had sent ahead. Esau at first declined the gift, saying that he already had plenty. He wanted Jacob to keep the animals for himself as he gets re-established in the land of their father. At first, Jacob wanted to win Esau's favor, but now that he had it from Esau before Esau knew the animals were a gift, Jacob realized that seeing Esau face to face in such an accepting way that God had been answered his pray being so welcomed by Esau was an immense gift to Jacob. After Jacob insisting once more Esau accepted his brother's gift. Their brotherhood was restored.
Next, Esau suggested that he escort Jacob and family through the area. Jacob declines. I think that was a wise course to take. He didn't need Esau's influence.
FHalaleva's comment on 2010-12-28 06:37:24:
I am very fond of this verse as I choose to preach on the 31st of december 2010.
When I look at it and think about Jacob in what he did to Esau about his rights and his latest wrestle with God (Peniel) and I thought if you dont repent yourself there will be no way your going to see heaven.
For Esau his forgiveness and his calm he still one to lead with God help.
So what I learnt that if you repent and forgive everyone and let god lead you the way in your life it will make you see heaven for sure.