Message Notes

Introduction

1. The meeting between two brothers, twins

a) Not met for 2 decades

b) Jacob bowed 7 times

c) Esau ran to Jacob, embraced him, fell on his neck and kissed him

d) Reconciliation

2. Tears were shed

a) For many lost years

b) For sorrow felt

c) Regret for all the pain

d) Tears of joy

The question of Esau

“Then Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?”

Genesis 33:8a

1. Esau had seen the company of things

2. The company…a reference to the huge gift from Jacob

3. Esau was puzzled by the gift

4. It was something that he had never experienced before

a) The huge gift was unexpected

b) Jacob had never given him anything before

The answer of Jacob

And he said, “These are to find favour in the sight of my lord.”

Genesis 33:8b

1. Jacob was open and candid

a) He shared openly his true intention in giving the gift

b) Generous in his giving

c) He revealed why he planned the gift for Esau

i) He wanted Esau to look on him favourably

ii) It was his way of apologising to Esau for his bad behaviour

2. But Jacob was still hesitant

a) Jacob addressed Esau as my lord

b) He was still afraid of Esau

i) Esau had his 400 men with him

ii) Jacob was not a hunter or warrior

iii) Esau could easily destroy him and his family

The brotherly response of Esau

“But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.”

Genesis 33:9

1. Esau called Jacob his brother

2. It was Jacob who had been avaricious and covetous…not Esau

3. Esau’s reply

a) Kindness

b) Graciousness

c) Brotherly love

4. Esau was not looking for anything

a) He had enough

b) Enough to maintain 400 men

c) He wanted to return the gift

Jacob persuades Esau to receive his gift

“And Jacob said, “No, please, if I have now found favour in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me. Please, take my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” So he urged him, and he took it.”

Genesis 33:10-11

1. Jacob’s insistence for Esau to receive the gift

a) A confirmation of Esau’s favour upon him

b) Jacob planned to give the gift to Esau

c) He was no longer being avaricious and covetous

d) He was sharing his blessings with Esau

2. Seeing Esau’s face

a) He saw Esau’s face differently

b) He saw “the face of God”

c) He believed that Esau was pleased with him

Seeing the face of God

1. What does it mean to see the face of God?

a) The Lord’s Word to Moses
“But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.” Ex 33:20

b) Idiomatic phrases

i) The house of God Gen 28:16-19

ii) Peniel… the face of God Gen 32:30

c) The meaning of seeing God face to face

i) To be understood figuratively

ii) Closeness with God

2. Seeing the face of God in his reconciliation with Esau

a) “As though”

b) Recalling the encounter with the Angel of the Lord

i) The event of being reconciled to Esau

ii) Caused Jacob to recall this recent encounter with
the Angel of the Lord. Gen 32:24-30

iii) Jacob wrestled with the Angel of the Lord

iv) Named the place Peniel as he saw the face of God

c) Closeness with God

i) Seeing how God had been there with him right from the beginning

ii) Seeing how He had changed him

iii) Seeing how He had also changed Esau

iv) Seeing the restored relationship between Esau and him.

3. Reasons for Esau to receive the gift

a) A polite plea… “Please”

b) Spiritual reasoning from Jacob

i. Sharing God’s blessing that was meant for Esau

ii. God had graciously given to Jacob

iii. He had more than enough

c) Esau accepted Jacob’s explanation and received the gift

Conclusion

1. Cultivation of faith

a) Commencement of faith Gen 28

b) Limited faith Gen 29-31

c) A more mature faith Gen 32, 33

2. Change of heart Gen 32, 33

a) Change in how we see things

b) Change in how we see others

3. Closeness with God

a) Relating closer to God in prayer

b) Closeness in seeing God’s hand in our lives