Shadowland: Beginnings

Shadowland: Beginnings: Week 38

משחק בינגו

The Reunion - Genesis 33

God gave Jacob, "conniver", a new name, Israel, "God rules". But in the very next verse, he is still Jacob! Jacob is unique in Scripture in that he is not called by his new name from that point on. His misadventures are presented to us for our instruction, and his waffling between acting like "Jacob" or "Israel" mirrors our own struggle between the flesh and the Spirit. After he receives the name Israel, you can assume that he is "walking in the flesh" when he is called "Jacob", and "walking in the Spirit" when he is called "Israel". Having just moments ago wrestled with God in the flesh, received his new name and blessing, and been permanently injured to force him to lean on something other than himself, "Jacob" now goes right back to leaning (rather lamely) on himself.

33:1 Jacob's test of faith comes immediately after his encounter with God.
33:2 Jacob's favoritism did not begin with Joseph's coat. It is painfully obvious here.
33:4 Jacob prayed for God to help him, and God answered, speaking to Esau. We are not told exactly what God told Esau, but we can infer some of it. God gave him an inheritance in Caanan along with Lot. (Deuteronomy 2:5,19) God had already blessed him with the substance of what Isaac intended to bless him with. (33:9)
33:8 Jacob now proceeds to finalize the sale of the birthright back to Esau. Esau sold his birthright for some "red stuff" to save his life when he was dying from hunger (or thought he was). Jacob sells the birthright back to Esau to save his life because he was in danger from the sword of Esau (or thought he was).
33:11 One of the ways con men entice people to take them into confidence is with the giving of gifts.
33:12 God told Jacob to go home, and God dealt with Esau's emnity - as indeed Jacob implored Him to in the first recorded prayer. Esau offers his protection to Jacob as they return home together.
33:13 But Jacob refuses to believe that God has dealt lastingly with Esau's anger, and tells Esau he has to come slowly because of the cattle and children. This is a lie. Well, a half truth along the lines of Abram and Isaac and their "sisters".
33:14 Jacob tells Esau he will meet him in Seir. Another lie.
33:15 Again, Esau offers to leave some of his armed men as protection, but Jacob has other ideas.
33:16 As with Abram and Isaac with Abimelech, Jacob the ancestor of Christ looks really bad compared to Esau.
33:17 Having told Esau he would meet him in Seir, to the Southeast, Jacob now travels Northwest - in contradiction to his promise to Esau and in direct disobedience to God's instruction to return to his kindred (Genesis 31:3) As with Abram and Isaac, Jacob lies to a king of this world, and is an embarassment. As with Abram and Isaac, his direct disobedience will have dire consequences in the next chapter. It will also lead to the early death of Rachel as circumstances force him to go home at last like God told him to - while Rachel is great with child.
33:20 Jacob is not only disobedient, but presumptious, calling the altar "God, the God of Israel". God is not pleased, having to reiterate, "Go to *Bethel* and build an altar like I told you."