The Story of God: Mending Fences

Change. Some people like change. They like new things. Some people don’t like change. Some people never change. Others do. That’s what makes Jacob’s story in the Story of God such a hopeful story. Jacob, named the Heel Grabber, meaning to go behind someone’s back, lived most of his life a self-serving deceiver. Jacob was deceitful: He got Esau to sell him his birthright. He deceived his father into giving him the blessing of the first-born. Jacob was self-reliant: He relied on his own strength and his own flesh to make Rachel his wife. Jacob was fearful: He ran away from Laban without telling him. He was far from humble, rarely prayed and was always fearful. But then something happened that changed him. He wrestled with God, and God broke him; and in the process, God changed him. His encounter with God transformed him into a new man, a different man… a changed man.

And now this changed man is ready to finally meet his estranged brother Esau and make things right. And that’s why Jacob’s story is full of hope for us. For if God can take a rascal like Jacob and change him, then you’ve gotta’ believe there’s hope for every one of us.

So today as we return to Jacob’s story, we now get to see the fruit of God’s work in Jacob, as he finally meets his brother and mends the fences of their broken relationship. So if you brought your Bible with you today, let me encourage you to find Genesis 33, where we’re going to see the changes in Jacob and how they led him to make peace with his brother and right all the wrongs he did so long ago. Let’s begin by looking at verses one through three:

We want to begin by looking at verses 1 through three as Jacob goes about Making Peace with his brother: “Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men” If you were here last week, you knew that this was coming. Jacob knew this was coming. Esau was coming to meet him with 400 men, a militia, a small army. And if you were here last week, you know that Jacob’s wrestling match with God ended at sunrise, and the text tells us that The son rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. So when we get to this first phrase, Jacob looked up and there was Esau, this meeting with Esau happens almost immediately. He raises his eyes and its time for showdown number two. So what does he do?

Let’s read: So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two female servants. He put the female servants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. Genesis 33:1-3

Once again he divides his family into groups, but then we see something different. Jacob himself takes the lead. He goes ahead of everyone else. He is no at the rear. He is no longer a coward, he’s no longer fearful. He’s no longer hiding behind the skirts of his wives. He takes the lead. He takes the initiative. No scheming, no deceit, no shield. He just goes up to Esau not knowing what to expect. This is the new Jacob.

And the first change we see in Jacob is his new-found Courage. Where did this courage come from? From God. Remember, God had given him a new name: Israel. One who struggles with God and has overcome. It’s a name of victory. God had blessed him. God was with him. And Jacob finally believed this was true. What had changed? Jacob now had his own faith in God. So his courage came from God.

So what does he do? He bows down seven times before him. He’s literally on his knees placing his forehead into the dust before Esau, seven times. It’s a position of total submission, complete humility. He’s humbling himself before Esau. But at the same time he is giving Esau something. What’s he giving him? Respect! By bowing seven times before him, he is doing what ancient vassals did before their masters. It’s the address of a servant before his master. And by kneeling down seven times, he is conferring great respect to one who is his superior. Jacob is taking the first step in making peace. He is acknowledging Esau as the first born.

This is the second change we see in Jacob: Humility. To give respect one needs to humble themselves. This is an important step in the reconciliation process. If you’re wanting to mend a broken relationship, coming to them in humility is an absolute must. Why? This is how Jesus came to us. He humbled himself and made himself a servant. This is now Jacob’s posture. And immediately his humility is rewarded. Easu runs to him, embraces him, throws his arms around him and kisses him.

Does this image of the offended party running to greet his long lost brother ring a bell? Well, if you’re familiar with the story of the Prodigal Son, this is exactly what the Father did when he saw his estranged son. Let’s take a look at that. If you have your Bible’s turn now to Luke 15:11-20 (turn to Luke 15)

The Father in that story represents to us how God pursues us and wants to reconcile us – make our relationship right with him. That’s what’s happening here. Look at the text: But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.  This is the moment of reconciliation. This is what Jacob had been hoping for. No more barriers. No more resentment. And the joy of their reconciliation is confirmed by their weeping. Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. “Who are these with you?” he asked.

Jacob answered, “They are the children God has graciously given your servant.”

Then the female servants and their children approached and bowed down.  Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down. Last of all came Joseph and Rachel, and they too bowed down. Genesis 33:4-7

Here’s the third change we see in Jacob. He’s Thankful. Whereas before, he schemed his way to his father’s blessing, now he’s grateful for all God has graciously given him. He has wives and children, flocks, herds and servants. God has made him exceedingly wealthy, but he gives all credit to God for that. He is thankful.

But now we’re about to see another change in Jacob, because now that he is at peace with his brother, he is bent on Making Things Right And so we read: Esau asked, “What’s the meaning of all these flocks and herds I met?” “To find favor in your eyes, my lord,” he said. Genesis 33:8

Another amazing change in Jacob. Did you catch it? He’s just being up front with Esau. This new man is an Honest man. Jacob the deceiver, who will go behind your back to get what he wants, now tells it straight with Esau. He’s brought these gifts to find favor with Esau. He’s brought these gifts to make things right with him. He tricked him out of his father’s blessing. Now he wants to give him what should rightly be his. But Esau said, “I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.”

“No, please!” said Jacob. “If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably. Please accept the present that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.” And because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it. Genesis 33:9-11

Now, even though meeting God changed Jacob, this is a great example of how his core personality doesn’t change. Just as he was determined in his encounter with God, asking God to not let him go without the blessing; we see that same determination here. He is determined that Esau accept his gift.

Why is this so important to Jacob? By insisting that Esau “accept” his gift, Jacob is using a sacrificial term, and is equating Esau’s acceptance with forgiveness. If Esau accepts his gift, Jacob would know that he has made things right with Esau. He would know that he’s forgiven; and now Esau would have nothing to hold over his head. So Jacob felt that he could not be sure of Esau’s forgiveness if he refused his attempt to make amends. So he insists in the strongest possible terms. And because he insists, Esau accepts. Jacob has made things right.

By the way, in the reconciliation process, this is always a good thing to do. If at all possible, if you can make restitution for the wrong you have done, that’s a good thing. Here Jacob went the extra mile to make things right. This is precisely what God has done for everyone of us. He gave us the best He had. He gave His Son, who gave up His life, so we could be made right with God. And by the way, God insists that we receive His gift so that we might have eternal life. This is how John explains it in the gospel of John: He (Jesus) came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him.  Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God. John 1:11-12 and Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Jacob used the strongest possible terms to make sure Esau would accept his gift. Sometimes I think we should be more insistent with Jesus. God’s gift of Jesus has paid it all. God’s gift of Jesus provides forgiveness, life, peace and joy with God. If you haven’t received God’s gift, what are you waiting for? God has made a way for you to get right with him once and for all and forever. He’s proved his love for you. He’s given you His Son. Take His gift. God offers it freely… and you’ll be forgiven and set free. Please receive God’s gift of His Son. You’ll never regret it.

Okay… so we’ve come to the end of Jacob and Esau’s story. Jacob’s mended the fences with his brother by initiating the encounter and humbling himself before him. And he’s made things right with Esau by insisting he receive his generous gift. But now its time to move on. And so we read: Then Esau said, “Let us be on our way; I’ll accompany you.”

But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are tender and that I must care for the ewes and cows that are nursing their young. If they are driven hard just one day, all the animals will die. So let my lord go on ahead of his servant, while I move along slowly at the pace of the flocks and herds before me and the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.”

Esau said, “Then let me leave some of my men with you.”

“But why do that?” Jacob asked. “Just let me find favor in the eyes of my lord.”

So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir. Jacob, however, went to Sukkoth, where he built a place for himself and made shelters for his livestock. That is why the place is called Sukkoth. Genesis 33:12-17

Here now is the final change we see in Jacob. He doesn’t go with his brother, but goes to a place call Sukkoth, which means “shelter.” Now one might think that Jacob is reverting to his old ways because it sounds like he just lied to Esau. But we need to understand something about Esau here. Esau despised his birthright. He did not have in mind the things of God. Esau is not a man of God. He’s a man of the flesh. So God did not change Jacob to have him go back to live with Esau. God changed Jacob so he would come back to the land to lead His people. Out of Jacob, Israel, will come now: the twelve tribes of this new nation. So Jacob does not go with Esau, because he is a changed man – God’s man, who will now lead God’s people.

So what’s changed in Jacob? As we come to the end of this encounter between Jacob and Esau, with this reconciliation behind him, Jacob is ready to move on and live as the One whom God is blessing. Jacob is now a man of faith. He’s a new man. He no longer follows man, but God.  And this should give us hope.

God took a fearful man and made him brave.

God took a self-reliant man and made him humble.

God took a selfish man and made him thankful.

God took a deceitful man and made him honest,

and God took a man of the flesh and made him a man of faith.

And if God can transform a man like Jacob, just think what He can do with you?

That’s why God sent Jesus. Not just to give you eternal life with Him forever, but a new life. He didn’t just come to save you, He came to transform you.