Read the Selected Scriptures from Gen. 33-35

·       33:5: These are the children God has graciously given to me.  This is the first use of this word (Heb. hanan) in the OT.  The root idea is to “bend in kindness to an inferior.”  The second use is in v11 when Jacob is speaking of his possessions, also given graciously to him by the LORD.  It is significant when we have come to the mindset that all we are and have is grace from God!

·       33:8,10,15; 32:5: “favour.”  In v5,11 we have the verb; in these passages is the noun.  The first use was of Noah who found “grace” in the eyes of the LORD (Gen. 6:8).  Abraham found it in the LORD (18:3) as did Lot (19:19).  Laban found it in Jacob (30:27; except that Jacob was also paid by Laban for his work).  And now Jacob was hoping to find it in Esau. 

·       33:10,14: In my view, Jacob is still “blowing smoke.”  I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God.  Jacob must have been amazed at God’s work on his behalf, that the meeting with Esau should be so easy.  Did he end up in Seir with Esau?  No.  But he did continued on to Succoth (in the Jordan Valley where he built a house), Shechem (where he stayed for a year), Bethel (where he worshiped the LORD), Bethlehem (where Rachel died) and Hebron (where Isaac then died and was buried by Esau and Jacob).

·       34:11: Shechem (the son of the king of Shechem) was confused about grace: “let me find favor in your eyes and I will pay for it.”

·       35:1-4: This is most significant, the putting away of idols.  There is only one God!

·       35:8: The terebinth tree at Bethel was where Deborah, Rebekah’s nurse was buried.  She was obviously very special.  There is a large terebinth at the historic site of Bethel, not the original of course but a reminded.  We will post pictures of the tree, the hut built by Muslims over the supposed place where Jacob dreamed of angels, and the area believed to be the site of Jeroboam’s altar for the gold calf.

·       35:1-15: The second visit to Bethel by Jacob was quite important.  First, from this passage it is clear that the LORD sees a connection between the two visits.  Jacob needs to go back to Bethel and acknowledge that, yes, God did keep His word.  It was not the work of Jacob but the work of God.  It is not surprising, then, that God reiterates the covenant with Jacob, the covenant made first with Abraham and then with Isaac.  In obedience to the LORD, Jacob built an altar at Bethel.  On the first visit he had erected a pillar, a memorial to an important event.  Before leaving he erected another pillar, indicating a new “significant event” had occurred.  The pouring of the drink offering and of oil indicated this event had deep significance.

·       35:16-20: With the death of Rachel, and birth of Benjamin, another pillar is erected.  We have included a photo of Rachel’s tomb, accessed by a road along the Bethlehem wall built by Israel.

 

Hut over Jacob's bed

Site of Jeroboam's altar of idolatry

Terebinth tree at Bethel

Rachel's tomb; Bethlehem wall built by Israel

Read the Selected Scriptures from Gen. 32-33

·       32:3: Ah, yes!  Laban was yesterday’s problem, and God intervened.  Today’s problem is Esau.  As soon as Jacob hears Esau is coming he is overcome by fear.  Where is the memory and encouragement of God’s works?  Ps. 145:5-6: I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and on Your wondrous works. Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts, and I will declare Your greatness. Maybe it’s because of Psalm 62:12: God renders to each one according to their works.  Sometimes we do not have such a great appreciation of God’s work yesterday because today we doubt that we are worthy of His mercy.  There’s an old gospel song called “I Am No Stranger to Grace.”  Jacob was needing to become more familiar with grace.  I understand Jacob.  I have been Jacob.  In this life we do not come to the point of “sinless perfection” but we should become spiritual adults, people who are “familiar” with grace (Heb. 5:12-14).

·       32:4-5: Jacob humbled himself before Esau.  Interesting.  He wrestled all night with the Angel of the LORD.

·       32:9-12: But then we have Jacob’s finest and truest conversation with God.  There is no one else around to hear the prayer or to be impressed by his praying.  He is alone with God.  Note: 1) I am not worthy.  2) Deliver me.  3) For You said!  There is no greater basis for faith than what God has said!

·       32:13-21:  This ought not be considered strange, that Jacob expresses great trust in God through prayer, and yet he still sees the path forward as “me and God.”  Maybe he has advanced to “God and me.” 

·       32:22-32: I believe our interpretation of Jacob’s spiritual life is accurate.  God gives Jacob the name “Israel” (he struggles); he is not characterized by rest.

·       33:1: Jacob lifted his eyes.  This is a very common phrase in the OT.  But it is a profound phrase.  Perhaps we will expand on this in the future, but for now, we see that Jacob has ended his night of struggling with God.  To “lift your eyes” is to get a view of your immediate circumstances, to see what is around you or facing you.  Jacob lifted his eyes and saw Esau and 400 armed men heading his direction.  This is the point where our faith in God begins to become real.  How we react to what we see is the issue.  Go back to 32:12 and what Jacob knew the LORD had said to him: For You said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’  Over the years since that night at Bethel God had not called on Jacob to make plans and do his best for the promise to be fulfilled.  More than anything, God worked with and around Jacob’s scheming.  We see here that Jacob is still working hard to experience what God said He would do.

Read the Selected Scriptures from Gen. 31-32

·       31:21: Jacob had come from the east into the Mountains of Gilead.  This has become a favorite spot for me in Israel because there are so many stories that took place here.  Here is a photo taken from the western side of the Jordan River.  The road came from the valley of the Jabbok River (blue circle, Mahanaim is up in that area), crossed the Jordan (yellow circle shows todays crossing; the Jordan is on this side of the white hills), and then climbed up the other side to Shechem.  We will also include a map of Jacob’s travels.

·       Here are some thoughts from the story of Jacob at this point.

o   31:31: Jacob tells Laban that he fled because he feared Laban.  He did not say “the LORD” told me to go which was, in fact, the case (31:3).

o   Laban (31:29) calls the LORD “the God of your fathers,” not “Jacob’s God.”  Perhaps Jacob had not been much of a testimony in Haran. He may have been more known for his scheming than for his trust in God. Remember how Nebuchadnezzar referred to “the God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego” (Dan. 3:28) and Darias to “the God of Daniel” (Dan. 6:26). 

o   31:36-41: This is more likely true because Laban and his sons and servants could have rebuked Jacob.  It is only then that Jacob speaks boldly of God, but still as “God of my fathers” Abraham and Isaac.

o   32:2: Jacob says this is “God’s camp” (Heb. Elohim mehane).  Yet he calls it “two camps” (Mahanaim).  Why two camps if it is God’s camp?  Is it still “God and me?”  That’s what I think.  Jacob has not come to the place of “God and God alone.” This is certainly an issue for Christians as we “walk in the Spirit.”  Our salvation does not involve “adding to the works of Christ” as Catholicism teaches.  Not by works of righteousness that we have done (Titus 3:5).  We “work out” our salvation (Phil. 2:12).  We never “work for” our salvation.”  Christ need NO help!  Isa. 43:11: I am the LORD and there is no Savior.  Titus 2:13: the LORD is our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.