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 and he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him and they wept. (33:1–4)
Notice Jacob’s very humble approach toward Esau (which was not the case in their younger days). He is doing all that he can to appease and make peace with his brother, whom he greatly fears at this point. He had sent ahead an extremely generous gift, and now he comes bowing seven times as they are approaching each other. Esau greets him warmly (phew!) and wants them to travel together to Esau’s land in Seir. Jacob declines, explaining that he must go at a slower pace because of the young of his flocks, and because of his children, so Esau consents to go and let Jacob follow at his own pace.
Jacob doesn’t follow Esau to Seir, but instead stops in Shechem, and buys some land there, where he has pitched his tent. He erects an altar (Genesis 33:20) calling it “El-Elohe-Israel” – (translation: “God, the God of Israel”, Israel being Jacob’s new name).
Jacob, or now Israel, is finally calling God his God rather than the God of his father or grandfather. Israel has seen God fulfill His promise to protect him, bless him, and bring him back, and he has had a personal experience with God.
Children growing up in a believing home, who are taught the Scriptures from their infancy and taught how to pray and to obey God, cannot rely on their parents’ faith and relationship with God, but must have their own. God-followers, as I have often reminded my children, follow God. Seeing God work in their parents’ and others’ lives, is a big help, but they need to actually worship God and seek to follow Him for themselves.
Prayer: You are faithful, O God! I have seen this over and over in my life and in my family members’ lives. Our children have seen this. May each of my children and my children’s children choose to worship you and follow you. Amen.
