Brothers Reconciled

GOLDEN TEXT: “Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye.” —Colossians 3:13

GENESIS 32:24-30; 33:1-4

MANY years had passed since Jacob fled from his brother Esau, who had threatened to kill him because, as Esau saw it, Jacob had stolen his father Isaac’s blessing from him. By instructions from his father, Jacob had gone to Padan-aram, the home of Laban, his mother’s brother, and had married two of his daughters, serving Laban seven years for each of them.

The Lord had blessed him in Padan-aram, and he was now returning with his wives and children, together with servants and flocks and herds of cattle and sheep. Meanwhile, Esau had also acquired great possessions, and upon hearing that Jacob was returning, went out to meet him. Jacob had no way of knowing whether or not Esau was still determined to kill him, and upon hearing of his approach became very apprehensive of what would happen when they met. His fear was increased when he learned that Esau was bringing four hundred men with him.—ch. 32:6

Jacob decided on a course of appeasement by making Esau a large present from his flocks and herds. In case of attack he divided “the people that were with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands; and said, if Esau come to the one company and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.”—ch. 32:7,8

The night before the broil met, Jacob and his company arrived at the ford Jabbok. Jacob named the location Peniel. He sent his family across the brook, while he remained alone, “and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.” (vs. 24) This “man” with whom Jacob wrestled was undoubtedly one of the holy angels or messengers of God who had materialized for the purpose of communicating a message from the Lord to the patriarch.

Previously he had prayed earnestly to the Lord for protection from a possible attack by Esau. As a basis for this request, he claimed the promise of God pertaining to his “seed,” which, of course, would also be the “seed” of Abraham. It was this covenant of the Lord with his grandfather Abraham in which Jacob was primarily interested. He had bought the birthright to it from Esau, and now, in the face of supposed danger he depended upon his promise-keeping God to help him.

The coming of the angel that night was, seemingly, in answer to this prayer. It was an unusual method which the Lord employed here to reassure his servant. Ordinarily we think of Jacob wrestling with the angel in prayer all night, and from this many have concluded that the Lord wants his people to “agonize” in prayer, al though it is difficult to see any similarity between agonizingly pleading with the Lord and literally wrestling with a materialized angel.

As far as the record indicates, little or nothing was said either by Jacob or the angel throughout the night. Finally the angel, with a miraculous touch, put Jacob’s thigh out of joint. Then the angel spoke to Jacob, saying, “Let me go, for the day breaketh.” Jacob replied that he would not release the angel until he had been blessed by him. Then the angel gave Jacob a blessing, which was the changing of his name from Jacob to Israel.

The reason for this, the angel explained, was, “as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” Prof. Strong gives the meaning of Israel to be, “he will rule as God.” Thus this new name carried the connotation that Jacob’s descendants, the Israelites, were chosen to represent God as rulers. Later the nation was given an opportunity to prove its worthiness of this exalted calling.—Exodus 19:5,6

There is nothing in this experience of Jacob with the angel to suggest that it was designed to be a model of effective prayer. Jacob said that he had seen God face to face. All that he actually saw was a representative of God. But the experience was very real, and Jacob explained it as it appeared to him.

When he met his brother Esau he discovered that the old hatred and desire to kill no longer existed. Esau had never been interested in the covenant pertaining to the “seed,” and now that he had acquired earthly wealth he was well satisfied and saw no reason for remaining angry with his brother.

While the expressions of forgiveness and friendship between Jacob and Esau are commendable, they are hardly in the category of Christian brotherly love and forgiveness referred to in our Golden Text, which is likened to Christ’s forgiveness of us. Christ’s forgiveness springs from quite a different motive. With Jacob and Esau it was simply that both had prospered and had obtained their desires so there was no reason for further animosity between them.

QUESTIONS

Where was Jacob returning from when he met Esau?

What is the meaning of the name “Israel”, and what are its connections as related to the Israelites?

What is Christian forgiveness?

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