From Peniel, “the face of God” (see Genesis 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 (Genesis 33:1). Jacob is worried, and therefore prepares himself and his family for whatever might happen.
Read Genesis 33:1-20. 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?
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Jacob bows himself seven times before his brother (Genesis 33:3) whom he calls several times “my lord” (Genesis 33:8, Genesis 33:13, Genesis 33:15, NKJV) and identifies himself as his “servant” (Genesis 33:5; compare with Genesis 32:4, Genesis 32:18, Genesis 32:20, NKJV). Significantly, Jacob’s seven bows echo his father’s seven blessings (Genesis 27:27-29); furthermore, when he bows, he specifically reverses his father’s blessing, about “nations [bowing] down to you” (Genesis 27:29, NKJV).
It is as if Jacob’s intention was to pay his debt to his brother and return the blessing that he has stolen from him (see Genesis 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” (Genesis 33:4, NKJV).
Later, Jacob commented to Esau: “I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God” (Genesis 33:10, NKJV). The reason for Jacob’s extraordinary statement is his understanding that Esau had forgiven him. The Hebrew verb ratsah, “pleased” (Genesis 33:10, NKJV) is a theological term referring to any sacrifice that is “pleasing,” “accepted” by God, which then implies divine forgiveness (Leviticus 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 forgiveness, 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 by how others (besides the Lord) have forgiven you? |
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