Genesis 33

Father God, we thank you for this Word. Holy Spirit, breathe on this Word and speak to our hearts and renew our minds with understanding in the name of Jesus, Amen. Thank you LORD.

Genesis chapter 33 is where Esau and Jacob meet for the first time in a long time. Initially, Esau was angry at Jacob for taking their father's blessings and had vowed to kill him (Genesis 27:41). So Jacob run off to his uncle Laban's house who was a brother to his mother. In this chapter, we also see Jacob displaying utmost humility for this brother Esau as he bowed himself seven times to the ground as he approached Esau. (Genesis 33:3).

It was evident that Esau had nothing but love for Jacob as he "...ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept." (Genesis 33:4 NKJV).

In the previous chapter, we saw how Jacob out of fear had sent gifts ahead of him to appease his brother. However, Esau responded to Jacob, "I have enough my brother, keep what you have for yourself." (Genesis 33:9 NKJV). The anger that once existed in Esau's heart against Jacob was now a thing of the past but Jacob insisted and Esau accepted his gifts (Genesis 33:10-11).

It's important to remember that prior to this encounter, the LORD had already prospered Israel's way by ensuring that no harm would come to him.

We eventually see the brothers peacefully going their separate ways. Esau continued on his journey to Seir (Genesis 33:16) while Jacob stayed behind with his family and built himself a house at Succoth (Genesis 33:17 NKJV). It's interesting to note that Jacob's descendants lived in tents but for the first time here we see, Jacob building himself a house in this area.

This chapter ends with Jacob safely returning to Caanan. If we remember, in Genesis 28, after the LORD gave His covenant of promise to be with Jacob wherever He would go and to give all the land to him and his descendants (Genesis 28:13-15), Jacob in turn made a vow to God and said, "If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I am going, and give me bread to eat and clothing to put on, so that I come back to my father's house in peace, then the LORD shall be my God." (Genesis 28:20-21 NKJV)

Upon Jacob's return to Canaan, he built an altar there and called it El Elohe Israel (Genesis 33:20). This translates to the God of Israel. I believe Jacob received the revelation of LORD God's heart and love towards Him which gave him the understanding that indeed and truly, He was the God of Israel. As a result of Jacob's understanding of God's heart towards him, the God of Israel as seen above also became the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob (Matthew 22:32) as was always predestined by God, the Father.

Often times, it is easy to come to the conclusion that you love God and as a result, you follow and obey Him. However, everything we do especially in obedience to God is a response to God's love for us. This is based on the truth that we love God because He first loved us (1 John 4:19 NKJV) which is beautifully illustrated in Jacob's covenant and personal relationship with the LORD God.

I'll end with this Word found in Deuteronomy 7:9 AMPC that reminds us of God's faithfulness:

"Know, recognize and understand therefore that the LORD your God, He is God, the faithful God, who keeps Covenant and steadfast love and mercy with those who love Him and and keep His commandments, to a thousand generations,"

AMEN. Thank you LORD.

Invitation to salvation: I invite you to make this confession that invites you to new covenant that is found in the precious blood of Jesus Christ where we get to have a personal relationship with God, the Father and are kept safe in all of His blessings for His children:

"I believe with my heart and confess with my mouth that; Jesus Christ, the Son of God came in a human body to die for my sins so that I could have a new life where I am dead to sin and alive to God. I repent of my past sins and enter the Kingdom of light where I choose relationship with Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour and with God as my loving Father today and forever." AMEN.

Congratulations, by grace you are saved and are now a new creation in Christ Jesus. The old life has passed away and you have received the free gift of salvation into your life (2 Corinthians 5:17) where you get to freely access everything I've shared in this post. To the glory of the Almighty God. Amen.

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PS: Remember to read Genesis 33 alongside this post in your personal devotional time and share your thoughts in the comments below!