December 10, 2024
Passage Read: Genesis 33-36
Meditation Verses: 33:3-4
Thought
The response of these two brothers is interesting. Jacob left twenty years earlier, fleeing because Esau was consoling himself with the thought of killing Jacob after his father died. Turns out, his father lived quite a long time, even after Jacob finally returned! During Jacob's twenty year absence, Esau ended up inheriting responsibility for all his father's possessions, and did very well for himself. He had married into a powerful family in Seir, and so had everything he could possibly want. He no longer nursed a grudge against his brother, and it shows in his unabashed welcome of his returning brother. For all anyone knew, Jacob had died, but here he was back after so long a time! Jacob, on the other hand, was reserved at their meeting. Certainly glad that Esau wasn't coming to kill him, but also in no hurry to catch up and spend time with him. They both depart from each other as quickly as they reunite. There had never been a closeness, even though twins. They were entirely different, both very capable, but neither caring much for the other. Esau was clearly the more expressive of the two, but perhaps not particularly deep. Esau had been favored by his father and seems to have had an easy time in life, prosperous in every way with little difficulty. Jacob, on the other hand, seemed pressed on all sides from the time he left home till now. It's a wonder God chose him. He seems the less interesting and popular and favored of the two.
Application
Jacob had always been a homebody, so if God hadn't chosen him, he likely would have been entirely lost to history, even in his own family. There seems to have been nothing compelling or interesting about him, except his plotting to overthrow his brother. All for nothing. He had to leave everything behind out of fear of his brother, whom he had alienated and been alienated from since childhood! Even after his return, he seemed to be in no hurry to return to his father. I definitely see myself in Jacob, in terms of personality. He seems heroic in no way but his long-suffering. Even that, many would consider problematic rather than admirable. Apart from the grace of God in choosing him, Jacob seems to be entirely unremarkable. That's an encouragement to me. I don't have to be anything special, just hopefully special to God.