Genesis 33-34 -- Epic Fails That Could Go Unnoticed

My commentary sure pointed out some epic fails here by Jacob and his family members.  First, as he was meeting his brother Esau after 20 years of absence, it said he was scheming instead of trusting – putting his favorite wife and son behind all the rest for extra protection, which would set up new problems in the home later.  

He was bowing instead of limping.  “Jacob’s strength was in his limp, for it was a constant reminder that God had conquered him and he could trust the Lord to see him through.  Had Jacob limped, his brother would have noticed it and asked the cause, and that would have been Jacob’s golden opportunity to tell him what God had done for him.”

He was pleading instead of witnessing.  “Instead of confessing his sins and giving witness to God’s grace in his life, Jacob spent His time begging Esau to accept his gifts.”  He told his brother that seeing his face was like seeing the face of God, but he failed to tell him that he had seen the face of God!

He was promising but not performing.  He didn’t want to spend time with Esau and saw his farewell as a truce, similar to what he’d done with Laban, not a true reconciliation.  He implied that he’d eventually arrive at Esau’s home, but instead went in the opposite direction.  He was deceiving again.

Jacob was also delaying instead of obeying.  God had sent him to Bethel, but he wasn’t in a hurry to obey.  He built a house and pens in Succoth, then latter settled and bought land in Shechem before finally arriving in Bethel.  Because he tarried in disobedience, his daughter was raped and his sons Simeon and Levi became murderers.  Their vengeance “ruined Jacob’s testimony before the people of the land.  What good was it for Jacob to build an altar and worship the true God before his pagan neighbors if his children were going to act like pagans?” my commentary asks.

Father, help me to apply Your wisdom in this story to my own life.  Keep me from scheming and not trusting you.  Help me to reconcile and not deceive.  Let me know when I’m not obeying, and keep me in Your will.

Your Brother In Christ,

Gary Ford