The Brothers Meet
From Peniel, “the face of God” (see Gen. 32:30), the place where
he had this experience with God, Jacob moves now to meet with his
brother. After 20 years of separation, Jacob sees him coming with 400
men (Gen. 33:1). Jacob is worried and, therefore, prepares himself and
his family for whatever might happen.
Read Genesis 33. What connection is there between Jacob’s experience
of seeing the face of God at Peniel and Jacob’s experience of seeing
the face of his brother? What is the implication of this connection
in regard to our relationship with God and our relationship with
our “brothers,” whoever they may be?
Jacob bows himself seven times before his brother (Gen. 33:3),
whom he calls several times “ ‘my lord’ ” (Gen. 33:8, 13, 15, NKJV)
and with whom he identifies himself as his “ ‘servant’ ” (Gen. 33:5;
compare with Gen. 32:4, 18, 20, NKJV). Significantly, Jacob’s seven
bows echo his father’s seven blessings (Gen. 27:27–29); furthermore,
when he bows, he specifically reverses his father’s blessing, about
“ ‘nations [bowing] down to you’ ” (Gen. 27:29, NKJV).
It is as if Jacob’s intention was to pay his debt to his brother and return
the blessing that he had stolen from him (see Gen. 33:11). When Esau
saw his brother, against all expectations, he ran to Jacob and, instead of
killing him, he “kissed him, and they wept” (Gen. 33:4, NKJV).
Later, Jacob commented to Esau: “ ‘I have seen your face as though I
had seen the face of God’ ” (Gen. 33:10, NKJV). The reason for Jacob’s
extraordinary statement was his understanding that Esau had forgiven
him. The Hebrew verb ratsah, “pleased” (Gen. 33:10, NKJV), is a theo-
logical term referring to any sacrifice that is “pleasing,” “accepted” by
God, which then implies divine forgiveness (Lev. 22:27, Amos 5:22).
Jacob’s experience of God’s forgiveness at Peniel, where he saw the
face of God, is now repeated in his experience of his brother’s forgive-
ness, which he identifies as if he saw the face of God. Jacob lives a
second Peniel, the first one preparing for the second one. Jacob has
been forgiven by God and by his own brother. Truly, he now must have
understood, even more than before, the meaning of grace.
What have you learned about grace from how others (besides the
Lord) have forgiven you?
