Esau Meets A Changed Man Series

Before Augustine became a Christian, he lived a life of sin. Then he became a changed man. When a woman of immorality and his former mistress saw Augustine, he passed by her. What are you doing? she asked, don’t you recognize me? It is I? Yes, Augustine said, but it is no longer I.

The man who fled from Esau 20 years earlier was not the same man. It was Jacob the deceiver who left. Now it was Israel who limped on ahead of his family to meet his brother. Esau and Jacob were not only brothers they were twins. Esau was the first born.

Jacob’s name literally means grasps the heal. His name figuratively means deceiver. When Isaac and Rebekah were married, they waited 20 years to conceive. Almost as long as their parents Abraham and Sarah waited before Isaac was conceived.

The twins jostled in Rebekah’s womb and she asked the Lord why this was happening to her. Jacob was born the second of twins, his twin brother Esau was the older. When Jacob and Rebekah were in the womb they jostled in Rebekah’s womb. Rebekah asked the Lord what was happening in her womb and the Lord spoke to Rebekah. The LORD said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you will be separated; one people will be stronger than the other, and the older will serve the younger.” (Genesis 25:23)

The twins had very different personalities. Jacob was the quiet one who enjoyed the home life. Esau was the rugged outdoorsman, the hunter, a man’s man.

There were two ways Jacob incited Esau’s wrath. Jacob capitalized on Esau’s weakness and sold his birthright for a mess of pottage. He later deceived his father Isaac when he was almost completely blind to receive the blessing he intended to give to Esau.

After Jacob’s deceit Esau weeps and begs his father Isaac, to reverse the blessing. He cannot. Esau was not the kind of person that you wanted mad at you. Jacob must flee.

Jacob received the blessing not because of his deceit but in spite of it. The prophecy the Lord made to Rebekah was fulfilled. The older will serve the younger.

Jacob has his conversion experience at Bethel soon after he fled from Esau. We know that experience as Jacob’s Ladder. He had just lied, cheated and used the Lord’s name in vain for selfish purposes. Now when the Lord met him at Bethel, he vows to serve God and promises to tithe.

He was fleeing Esau when he left for Haran, but he also went to Haran for his wife. He meets Rachael and agrees with his uncle Laban to work 7 years in exchange for Marrying her. Laban deceived Jacob and forced Jacob to marry Leah. Ultimately Jacob worked 14 years to marry Rachael. Then another 6 years before God told Jacob to go back to his homeland.

Jacob slips away with his family, Rachael, Leah, eleven sons and incredible wealth in livestock. Laban chases Jacob down and confronts him. Jacob and Laban settle their differences and build an altar to God. The altar name means they made an agreement before God together.

Now Jacob does not need to look back. He can look ahead. The problem is that what he fled from 20 years earlier, the wrath of Esau, was still waiting for him there. Jacob’s conversion experience at Bethel does not eradicate the old nature. Jacob still often reverted back to the old deceiver.

Esau is waiting for Jacob with 400 men. At first Jacob takes a very cowardly approach. He send his family over across the River Jabbok in two groups ahead of him. He sends gifts and messengers to Esau, but he himself stays back alone. At least he is in desperate prayer as he waits behind.

That night Jacob got up and took his two wives, his two female servants and his eleven sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 After he had sent them across the stream, he sent over all his possessions. 24 So Jacob was left alone (Genesis 32:22-24)

While Jacob is in a place of desperation and alone in prayer Jacob has an experience at Peniel. Jacob wrestles all night with a man. The emphasis of the account shifts. Jacob is not wresting a man, but this is the Lord. Jacob clings on and asks to be blessed.

Jacob has dealt with God. He is left limping with his hip socket torn. His name is changed from Jacob to Israel. Jacob called the place Peniel. It means he has seen the Lord face to face. Now that Jacob has dealt with God, come what may he is ready to meet Esau.

Now Jacob is not waiting behind. Now he goes on ahead of his family.