City Life Starter

Written by Nate Warren

The Word

33 And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants. ² And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. ³ He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

⁴ But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. ⁵ And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” ⁶ Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down. ⁷ Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down. And last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down. ⁸ Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company that I met?” Jacob answered, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” ⁹ But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” ¹⁰ Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me. ¹¹ Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Thus he urged him, and he took it.

Genesis 33:1-11

“…in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.”

Yahweh to Abraham – Genesis 12:3b

for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. ¹² I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. ¹³ I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:11a-13

Reflection

The reconciliation between Jacob and Esau is enabled by each brother being content with what he has. Esau is content with the material wealth that passed down from Isaac when Jacob abandoned the homestead, fleeing for his life. We can understand that this material wealth was ultimately all Esau cared about when he sold his birthright and later begged for his father’s blessing. At that time, he thought he could easily overpower Jacob and take whatever he wanted if it came to it. Ultimately, he got the material inheritance he wanted, while Jacob received the eternal covenant blessing.

Jacob’s contentment is based on his vulnerable trust in the favor of God. He has just escaped the wrath of his father-in-law after he snuck away with his daughters and a large caravan of disputed property. Then he experienced a face-to-face wrestling match with God and received His blessing. Now, twice delivered from certain death, he stands in front of a sizable army led by a man who swore to kill him. He has nothing to save himself except his God, so he lets go of most of his possessions in order to bless his brother and make restitution for his earlier treachery against him.

Application

Jacob’s material gift to Esau represents a downpayment on the fulfillment of God’s covenant promise that God’s people are blessed in order to be a blessing to all nations. We see here a strong depiction of how God’s people live into this. First, Jacob is vulnerable, depending on nothing but God’s faithfulness to establish him according to the promise. Second, he is generous, not driven by greed or hoarding for what he might need in the future. Finally, he is humble, bowing seven times and speaking to Esau as his greater. Esau returns virtue for virtue, and blesses Jacob with his forgiveness and by accepting his restitution.

If this gift is a downpayment of that promise, then Jesus is the fulfillment. Jesus generously humbled himself, becoming vulnerable to death on a cross in order to bless the nations with the opportunity to step into His abundant life. He was perfectly content to die so that you and I could know Him forever.

Prayer

Father,
You have promised to be with me. Help me to know contentment with only this, and teach me to rely on Your presence, guidance, and provision as I go. May Your blessings to me be a blessing for others as I learn to live vulnerably, generously, and humbly.
Amen