QT 11/18/2025 Gen 33:1-20, God at work in ways we didn't even see

Genesis 33:1–20 (ESV) —

1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants. 2 And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. 3 He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

4 But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. 5 And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” 6 Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down. 7 Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down. And last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down. 8 Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company that I met?” Jacob answered, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” 9 But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” 10 Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me. 11 Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Thus he urged him, and he took it.

12 Then Esau said, “Let us journey on our way, and I will go ahead of you.” 13 But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and that the nursing flocks and herds are a care to me. If they are driven hard for one day, all the flocks will die. 14 Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will lead on slowly, at the pace of the livestock that are ahead of me and at the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.”

15 So Esau said, “Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” 16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17 But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.

18 And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city. 19 And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, he bought for a hundred pieces of money the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent. 20 There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.

 

NOTE: Unless you've read the story before, everything points to Esau getting payback for the stolen blessing (and birthright). Although as I have mentioned before, Esau has been running the estate for over 20 years now and essentially owns it. Rebecca is dead and Isaac was having trouble seeing 20 years ago. But the amazing thing is that God has been working in Esau's life as he was working in Jacob's. Esau, his brother who had sworn to kill him, runs and falls on him, kisssd him, and together they weep. God has blessed his brother as well such that Esau tries to turn down the gift, but in typical eastern tradition, graciously accepts. Why did he come with 400 men? He came to protect his brother and even offered some of the men to protect him on the way to where he would settle. It is a beautiful story of forgiveness.

 

PONDER:

1. I know I worry about many things, but the key is to give those worries to God. I am not saying the issue will go away, but I am saying that God will bring about something that no worry could do better.
2. What are my worries?
3. What do I refuse to trust God concerning?

 

PRAYER: Father, I pray for this presentation that I am giving today. I pray for good attendance. I pray it will go will. I pray that I can mix a talk on AI and finding jobs with an identification of Christ as my savior. I give to you all the worries of what can go wrong.