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The face of Esau – the face of God

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On March 2, 2021

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

In the previous article, we learned about the fatherly love of Esau and his response of love, forgiveness and acceptance, as recorded in Genesis 33:1-7. Reading through Scripture, something equally or if not even more significant surfaces in the character profile of Esau.

The context is as follows. Jacob shrewdly and deceptively had deprived his twin brother, Esau of his birthright (Genesis 25:29-34) and blessings (Genesis 27:1-40). Fearing for his life (Genesis 27:41), he had fled to his uncle Laban’s place, where God had blessed him. Upon God’s direction (Genesis 31:13, 32:9), he is returning to the land that God had covenanted to give his fathers – Abraham and Isaac. Proactively he sends word with his servants, that he may find grace in the eyes of Esau (Genesis 32:5), hoping to have Esau’s wrath turned away from him. His servants return and tell him that Esau is coming to meet him with four hundred men (Genesis 32:6). Greatly distressed, fearing for the loss of his life and his family’s (Genesis 32:11), Jacob cries out to the Lord for his mercy and protection (Genesis 32:9-12) and then he acts again; this time, making ready an appeasement gift of significant proportions to give his brother Esau to avert his brother’s wrath. He sends his possessions as gifts, drove (flock) after drove. When Esau’s comes close to Jacob, he responds not with hatred, but with an accepting and restorative love, just as the father of a prodigal son did. Then when Esau questions, as to what all these droves meant, Jacob responds by saying that these gifts were to find grace in Esau’s eye. Esau informs his brother Jacob that he has enough and that he was not in need of his gifts. Jacob then makes an interesting statement, which is likely one of the greatest commendations that could be said of any man. Seeing the face of Esau, Jacob expresses that it felt as if he had seen the face of God for Esau had accepted him.

The Bible establishes that no man may see the face of God and live (Exodus 33:20). So how can Jacob make such a bold statement? How does Jacob know what God’s face looks like? Just a night ago, Jacob was in the presence of the angel of the Lord with whom he had wrestled. After he accepted his sinfulness and confessed that he was indeed a Jacob (deceiver), God (the angel of the Lord is likely the pre-incarnate Christ) responded with grace and acceptance and said that his past (as Jacob the deceiver) would no longer be necessary for his identification, for henceforth he shall be known by a new name Israel. He had seen God’s face (Exodus 32:30) reflect forgiveness, grace and acceptance. It was not any gift that appeased God, but his humble confession in repentance. Esau reflects that same character of God – of forgiveness, grace, and acceptance. Just as God had shown grace (unmerited favor), so did Esau.

Points to ponder:
The glory of God is revealed in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6) and we have this treasure hidden in us (2 Corinthians 4:7). When people look at us, do they feel the presence of the Lord? In other words, do they see us forgive, be gracious and accepting of those who have wronged us? Simply put, when people see our lives, can they express that they feel as if they have seen the face of God (in us) – the hidden treasure in our jars of clay? Do they God’s grace in us? Do they see God’s face in us?

Exodus 33:8-16 (KJV)
8 And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.
9 And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.
10 And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.
11 Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.
12 And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.
13 And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.
14 Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.
15 And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord.
16 So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.

2 Corinthians 4:6-7 (ESV)
6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. 

The Fatherly Love of Esau

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On March 1, 2021

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

The title for this article is likely to pique the attention of those who diligently study The Word of God. Yes, it is not the Fatherly love of Abraham, of Isaac, or of Jacob – the Patriarchs, or the Fatherly love of Job (Job 1:5), or Jehonadab aka Jonadab the Rechabite (2 Kings 10:15, Jeremiah 35:1-10), that I am writing about but the fatherly love of Esau.

From Genesis, the first book of the Old Testament (OT), wherein we read of the birth of Esau, Isaac and Rebekah’s older son, Jacob’s twin brother (Genesis 25:24-26), to Malachi, the last book of the OT, the reference to Esau or his descendants, the Edomites, is made (Malachi 1:2-4). Often you hear about the failure of Esau in homilies. He is touted as an example of one who despised his birthright and as one who gratified the pangs of his flesh, choosing momentary satisfaction over divine blessings (Genesis 25:27-34). Seldom do you hear of Esau in a positive light, despite the fact that one of the greatest accounts of Esau emulating God’s character is recorded in Scripture.

When Jacob is on his journey to return to the land that God had covenanted to give him, and his fathers, Abraham and Isaac, he looks up and sees his brother, Esau, with four hundred men. Jacob had wronged his brother by shrewdly having him sell his birthright to him and had cheated their father to steal the blessings of the firstborn (Esau’s blessings), Not knowing as to whether his brother Esau, whom he had wronged, would retaliate, he distances himself allowing his family to go ahead and follows them. He demonstrates deference by bowing seven times to the ground as he nears his brother. What follows is nothing short of extraordinary. You find Esau, the wronged brother, responds in love instead of hurt and hatred. Esau runs to meet Jacob, embraces him, and falls on his neck, and kissed Jacob and they wept. Following their reconciliatory embrace, Jacob’s family is presented to Esau, who inquires of them and they show the same deference to Esau, as did Jacob.

Esau’s response of love is indicative of a forgiving heart – a heart as of God himself, who forgives and who does not hold on to the wrong of people against him. It is the heart of the father who rejoices when the prodigal returns. Did you realize that the father in the parable of the prodigal son responds in the same manner as did Esau? When the prodigal son is still far away, the compassionate father sees him, runs to him, falls on his neck, and kisses him (Luke 15:20).

Points to ponder:
Esau’s response of love, forgiveness, and acceptance is commendable. It is more than brotherly love. It is the love of a father who accepts, in spite of the wrongs against him. It emulates the love of God the Father, who accepts us when we repent and return to God, humbling ourselves completely (Seven times Jacob bowed to the ground on his way back to his brother and this could imply totality since Seven is symbolically used to refer to perfection). Fear would make us distance ourselves from God, but when we return to him, while we are still far away, God with compassion runs towards us, embraces us neck-to-neck, and kisses us, accepting us, in spite of the wrong we have done against him by our self-centered, self-gratifying, and sinful lives.

If you have drifted away from God, now is your team to remember, repent, return and redo your first works (Revelation 2:5). Furthermore, can we respond unto our fellow brethren and sisters, in fatherly love, as did Esau to his brother? Who do you and I have to forgive? How can we respond as Esau did with fatherly love?

Exodus 33:1-7 (KJV)
1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.
2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.
3 And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.
5 And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.
6 Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.
7 And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.

Luke 15:18-24 (KJV)
18 I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee,
19 And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
20 And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him.
21 And the son said unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and in thy sight, and am no more worthy to be called thy son.
22 But the father said to his servants, Bring forth the best robe, and put it on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet:
23 And bring hither the fatted calf, and kill it; and let us eat, and be merry:
24 For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found. And they began to be merry.

The Peniel problem solved

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On April 10, 2019

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

Jacob calls the place where he wrestled a man, Peniel, because he says that I have seen God face to face and my life is preserved (spared). Who is this man and why is Jacob referring to him as God?

The man who wrestled with Jacob refers to himself as God (Genesis 32:28) and Jacob affirms that he has seen God face to face (Genesis 32:30). The prophet Hosea refers to this mysterious man as an angel and reveals to us that he is the Lord of heaven’s armies and the Lord is his name (Hosea 2:4-5). The man who wrestled with Jacob was the Angel of the Lord, the pre-incarnate Christ (Theophany to Jacob) who had also appeared as the angel of the Lord to Hagar (Genesis 16:7-13).

So though Jacob is correct in his expression that he has seen God face to face and his life was spared to give us this account,  this may seem to contradict other portions of the scripture for the Bible teaches us that one cannot see God’s face, for anyone who does will not live (Exodus 33:20). Additionally the book of John asserts that no one has ever seen God except the Lord Jesus (John 1:18). This is the Peniel problem and how is this solved?

The answer is the book of Exodus where it is recorded that the LORD spoke with Moses, face to face, as a man speaks with his friend (Exodus 33:11). The latter part of this verse “as a man speaks with his friend” is crucial. God appeared to Jacob as a man, for Jacob wrestled a man (Genesis 32:24). Therefore, Jacob and Moses’ seeing of God face to face is to state that they saw him as a man sees another – in close relationship – as a friend would commune with another.

Points to ponder:
For fallen man to see the one and only Holy God in his fullness and glory, would consume man, for God is a consuming fire (Deuteronomy 4:24; Hebrews 12:29), but man has seen God veiled in the flesh – in the person of Jesus Christ (John 1:1, 14). The fullness of God is in Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:9), and Jesus affirms that he and the Father (God) are one (John 10:30) and whoever has seen him have seen God the father (John 14:9). The full glory of God is in the face of the man Jesus Christ (1 Timothy 2:5; 2 Corinthians 4:6).

The Bible teaches us that “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). It also asserts that there is no one righteous, no not one (Romans 3:10), and the eyes of the Lord search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him (2 Chronicles 16:9). A fully committed heart is a heart that loves God over everyone and everything else and one that loves others. The heart has to be purified of all of the evil things that come from it, which defile a man (Matthew 15:19-20). Only by believing in Jesus Christ, can the heart be purified for believing in Jesus Christ imputes the righteousness of God in us (Romans 4:19-25). As David prayed, let us also pray “Create in me a clean heart and renew a right Spirit within me.” (Psalm 51:10).

In Jesus Christ alone, is the Peniel problem solved.

Points to ponder:

Jesus is the face of God. He who has seen me has seen God.

Genesis 32:30-32 (KJV)
30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
31 And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.
32 Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank.

What is your Name? Who are you?

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On April 9, 2019

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

When Jacob wrestled with God (Genesis 32:30, 32, Hosea 12:4-5), he clung on to God and would not let go of him unless he was blessed. To this, God responds and asks for his name. God asked “What is thy name?” Jacob answered the question and said that his name was “Jacob” which means supplanter or deceiver. To this God replied and rechristens Jacob saying that “you will no longer be called Jacob, but instead you shall be called Israel, for as a prince you have power with (not over) God and with man and have prevailed”. To this Jacob asks God, what is your name. I pray that you tell me your name. Instead of answering that questions as God did, by saying that he is the “I AM”, when Moses asked the same question, God counter-questions him asking “Why do you ask for my name?” and then proceeds to bless Israel there.

From this account, we can learn a few things.
God wants us to acknowledge who we are. The omniscience of God would not have required him to ask for Jacob’s name, yet he did. Until then, Jacob, the deceiver had fooled his father by telling him that he was Esau, to rob Esau of his blessings. Now, he was in a predicament where he could not lie to God, the Father of all (Ephesians 4:6), and he acknowledges and accepts who he is (a deceiver), that he is Jacob. So the first thing God does is not remind Jacob of who he is, but instead rechristens him and gives him a new name, likening him to be a prince. Other scriptures substantiate the rechristening act of God. Abram was rechristened Abraham, Sarai became Sarah, Saul was rechristened as Paul and when Simon recognized that Jesus was indeed the son of God he was rechristened as Peter (“Rock”). Additionally, we learn that right after God rechristened Jacob to be Israel, he blesses him. In other words, blessings succeeds rebirth/rechristening.

Points to ponder:
When we accept our sinful state before God, the Father, and confess of our unworthiness of his mercy as Jacob did (Genesis 32:10), he gives us another name (Isaiah 65:15), a new name (Rev 2:17), one better than that of sons and daughters (of men) that is everlasting (Isaiah 56:5), as children of God (1 John 3:1), one that is designated by God himself (Isaiah 62:2), As children of God, the King of kings and the Lord of lords, we are prince and princesses. God’s  name (Rev 3:12). God’s name is I AM (Exodus 3:14) and Jesus said before Abraham was, I AM (John 8:58). Jesus is God and the Lord is his name (Hosea 12:4-5).

Before man had sinned, blessings preceded naming (Genesis 5:1-2). Now in the fallen state of man, because of man’s sin and disobedience, blessings follows rebirth, that happen when one acknowledges their sinful state and accepts the Lord Jesus (),

So the question that demands an answer now is Are you rechristened by God? What is your name? Who are you?

Genesis 32:27-29 (KJV)
27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
28 And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
29 And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.

Clinging on to God; Will not let go

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On April 8, 2019

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

After Jacob had sent presents ahead of him with his servants, with the hope of appeasing his brother, he himself stayed the night in the camp. However, he could not sleep and so rose up that night and took his two wives, his womenservants and his eleven sons and sent them over the Jabook ford. And when he was left alone, a man wrestled him until the break of dawn. When the man saw the Jacob was strong and dominating, the man touched his thigh’s socket and got it out of joint as he wrestled with Jacob. But Jacob clung on and would not let go of the man. When the day was about to break, the man said “Let me go” to which Jacob responded “I will not let you go, unless you bless me.” (Genesis 32:21-26)

Points to ponder:
Like Jacob, when we are unable to rest (sleep), lonely, in dark times (before the break of day), we must cling on to Jesus Christ, and seek his blessings and never let go. Are you clinging on to God?

Genesis 32:21-26 (KJV)
21 So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company.
22 And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.
23 And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.
24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

Appeasing Present

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On April 5, 2019

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

After praying a prayer for deliverance, Jacob personally selected 200 female and 20 male goats, 200 ewes and 20 rams, 30 milk camels with their young colt, 40 cows and 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys and 10 male donkeys. In that time and culture, this would have not only been a sign of significant wealth, but of affluence and power. He divided them into herds and gave them to 3 groups of his servants and sent them one group after another, ahead of him, instructing them to keep a distance between each group. Then he commanded each group to respond to Esau, his brother, with the same message. When Esau asks them, “To whom do these herds, before you, belong?” and “Where are you going?”. They were to respond “These are your servant Jacob’s; but they are a present to his master Esau and he is right behind us.” He told them “Be sure to say, that your servant Jacob is right behind us.” for he thought that by sending the present ahead of him, Esau would be appeased when he would meet Jacob in person and perhaps accept him. Jacob sent the present ahead of him but he himself stayed the night in the camp.

From this account one can learnt that one can take prudent and proactive actions in their attempt to reconcile with those whom they have wronged, for a gift can open doors (Proverbs 18:16) and pacifies anger (Proverbs 21:14) appeasing the receiver of the gift.

Points to ponder:
God took the proactive action of offering himself to man for he loved them, despite their rebellion and disobedience (John 3:16). God the Father’s wrath was appeased when his only begotten Son, Jesus, offered himself as the present in mankind’s stead (Hebrews 10:12). Jesus, the gift of God, opened the door to God, as the veil that separated the Holy of holies was torn at Jesus’ death (Matthew 21:17) and he pacified the anger of God. Jesus is the only appeasing present to God.

And now it is our turn … to present ourselves as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God (Romans 12:1). And when we believe in Jesus Christ, as our Savior and Lord, we are accepted in the beloved (in Christ) by God (Ephesians 1:6). Is your life an appeasing present? Are you an appeasing present to God?

Genesis 32:13-20 (KJV)
13 And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother;
14 Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams,
15 Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.
16 And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove.
17 And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee?
18 Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob’s; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us.
19 And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him.
20 And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.
21 So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company.

Hebrews 10:11-12 (KJV)
11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
12 But this man (Jesus), after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

“Deliver me” prayer

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On April 4, 2019

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

In great fear and distress, thinking that his brother Esau was coming with four hundred men to avenge himself, for the wrong that Jacob had done against Esau, Jacob had no where to turn, but to God. He prays to God, making this the first recorded example of prayer in the Bible.

By addressing God as God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac – he personalized his relationship to God and was affirming the covenant relationship that his grandfather and father had with God. Jacob then recounts the promise of God that guaranteed his safe return and then recognizes that he was unworthy of the least of God’s mercies that he had been shown. He then makes a plea of deliverance, by praying “Deliver me” from impending danger and possibly death, in the hands of his brother, Esau. who’s blessings he had taken by deception. (Genesis 32:9-12)

Points to ponder:
From this first recorded prayer of Jacob, we see a model of prayer that everyone in the world ought to pray. First, one must recognize that God is a personal God. Second, God is a promise keeping God. Third, we are unworthy of God’s mercies and yet God shows us his mercies. And most importantly, we must each pray the prayer of deliverance, asking God to deliver us – to deliver us from sin, and the sting of death. This prayer of deliverance is in essence the prayer of confession – confessing that we are unworthy sinners in need of a Savior. And those who pray (cry) the prayer for deliverance, can be assured that God would deliver us (Psalm 34:6). Deliverance from fear and death is only possible by believing in Jesus, the Great Deliverer, through whom we have victory (1 Corinthians 15:55-57).

Have you prayed the prayer of deliverance? Have you confessed you need for Jesus, The Savior?

Genesis 32:9-12 (KJV)
9 And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the Lord which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:
10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.
11 Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.
12 And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.

Psalm 34:6-7 (KJV)
6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

1 Corinthians 15:55-57 (KJV)
55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?
56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

When we fear (men)

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On April 3, 2019

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

The Bible informs us that when Jacob found out from his messengers that his brother Esau, whom he had wronged, was coming to meet him along with four hundred men, he became greatly afraid and distressed. Uncertain of how his brother felt about him, and fearing that his brother would be coming with his men to avenge himself, Jacob divided his people, and the cattle (flocks, herds, and camels) into two bands, thinking that if Esau was to come and attack one band, then the other could escape (Genesis 32:6-8).

Interesting, isn’t it, that not too long ago, Jacob had witnessed two camps of God’s angelic army, and now all of his people and property had been divided into two bands. Did God in his omniscience know that Jacob would divide his people and property into two bands and so sent two hosts of angels in advance to protect him? I would like to think so, but the Bible does not affirm that and so we should leave speculation to be speculation.

Jacob acts of deception had given him a genuine reason to fear his brother, but God’s promise of being with him should have allayed that fear. In other words, if Jacob had faith – faith to trust God at his word, he would not have had to fear his brother – a mere man.

Points to ponder:
We fear when we fail to take God at his word and trust him, by placing our complete faith in him. The opposite of fear for a follower of Jesus Christ is not courage, but instead faith. When the disciples were afraid in the boat that was caught in a storm, Jesus did not ask them “Why they did not have courage?”, but instead asked them “How is it that you have no faith?” (Mark 4:35-41)

When we have no faith in Jesus, we have everything to fear. When we have all our faith in Jesus, we have nothing or no one to fear! When the storms of life buffet you and threaten to drown you, there is nothing to fear, if Jesus Christ is with you. Even first death is no longer something to be afraid off for it has no power over those who have placed their faith in Jesus Christ. Are you afraid and distressed?

Genesis 32:6-8 (KJV)
6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.
7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;
8 And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.

Mark 4:35-41 (KJV)
35 And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side.
36 And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships.
37 And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.
38 And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?
39 And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm.
40 And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith?
41 And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?

Lord, Servant and Grace

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On April 2, 2019

In Christian, Genesis, Through the Bible

As Jacob is on his way to the land of his birth, following the command of God, he comes to the land of Seir, in the country of Edom, where his brother Esau, whom he had wronged, lived. In an attempt to reconcile with his brother, Jacob sends messengers with gifts of cattle (oxen, asses, flocks) and people (men and women servants) to Esau (Genesis 32:4-6).

He had subtly tricked Esau into selling his birthday and deceived their father, Isaac, to rob Esau’s blessings (Genesis 27:36) making him lord (master) and Esau his servant (Genesis 27:37). Now notice that in his attempt to reconcile, he recognized his place and refers to Esau as lord (or master) and himself as Esau’s servant (Genesis 32:4) and requested that he finds grace in Esau’s sight.

Points to ponder:
From this account, first, we can learn a lesson on seeking forgiveness from other men and women whom we have wronged. We ought to recognize our position and place and seek to find grace in their sight. And second, the key words used in this situation are lord, servant and grace. In order to be reconciled with God, we need to accept the Lordship of Jesus Christ and accept and allow him to be our Master for he is Lord and Master (John 13:14) and just as he came to serve, we ought to serve (Matthew 28:20). Before accepting Jesus as Lord and Master, sin reigns over all people unto death (Romans 5:21), but when sin abounded the grace (of God) became more abundant (Romans 5:20) so grace might reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord (Romans 5:21).

Have you accepted Jesus to be your Lord?
Have you allowed him to be your Master?
Jesus’ grace is sufficient for you (2 Corinthians 12:9)!

Genesis 32:3-5 (KJV)
3 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
4 And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now:
5 And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.

Romans 5:19-21 (KJV)
19 For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.
20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
21 That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.

God’s Army – Mahanaim

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On April 1, 2019

In Genesis, Through the Bible

The Bible accounts in Genesis 32:1&2 that when Laban, Jacob’s uncle, left Jacob to return home, Jacob went on his journey toward where God had asked him to – the land of his father, his grandfather and his relatives (Genesis 31:3), the land of his birth (Genesis 31:13). And just as Jacob had started his journey, we are informed that angels of God met him. When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is God’s host (army)” and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

Mahanaim in Hebrew means two camps. Two camps? What two camps?

Biblical scholars speculate a few possibilities as to what these two camps were. Some hypothesize that one was Jacob’s camp and the other was the camp of the angelic army. Others posit that there were two camps of angels. Since the Bible states that Jacob had just started his journey (Genesis 32:1), and that he divided his people that were with him into two bands, in fear and distress, after he came to learn that his brother Esau was coming to meet him with four hundred men (Genesis 32:1), the conjecture that it was two camps of angels is more plausible.  

While the Bible does not explicitly state what these two camps were, reading through the verses carefully and sequentially, and cross referencing other Biblical scripture portions surface a hidden treasure that is edifying.  

God had promised to be with Jacob after he had commanded him to return to his family (Genesis 31:3,13). God’s army of angels was an indication of God’s presence going with his promise.

I would like to believe, that the two camps of angels were for the protection of Jacob, from threats that could come to him and his family from the front or behind.

Behind Jacob was Laban who had wronged him (Genesis 31:55) and in front of him (before him) was his brother Esau whom he had wronged (Genesis 32:3).

Another evidence of angelic protection all around (front and behind) can be found in the account of Elisha, the prophet of God, who supernaturally sees (just as Jacob did), God’s armies of angels surrounding him at Dothan (2 Kings 6:17).

Points to ponder:

God’s presence and protection goes with his promises and we can trust him and take him at his word. Jesus said, Go ye therefore into the world (the land of our birth) and be my followers, and Lo, I am with you always (Matthew 28:19-20). Jesus, the Angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him (Psalm 34:7) and he has armies of angels at his command, that will camp around you to protect you and guard you in all your ways (Psalm 91:11). So if God says “Go, and I will be with you” – just do it. Go and you will experience God’s presence and may supernaturally see mahanaim of God’s army encamping around you, to guard you in all your ways.

Genesis 32:1-2 (KJV)
1 And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.
2 And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God’s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.

Proverbs 34:7 (KJV)
7 The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them.

Matthew 28:19-20 (KJV)
19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

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