One Year Bible Readings and Commentary for Sunday, January 16th Jacob Sends a Gift to Esau, Jacob Wrestles With God, John the Baptist Comes on the Scene!
Old Testament Reading Genesis 32:13-34:31
Jacob Sends Gift to Esau
Jacob staggers the gifts of his flock and herds between three of his servants, as each one would say to Esau, "These are a gift from your servant Jacob, he is right behind us." Jacob spent the night in camp hoping these three waves of gifts would appease his brother. Though his strategy seems smart enough, you have to wonder how much was he trusting in God, or in his tactics.
“What care he takes about the whole affair! We cannot blame him, under the circumstances, yet how much grander is the quiet, noble demeanour of Abraham, who trusts in God, and leaves matters more in his hands!” (Spurgeon)
Jacob Wrestles With God
This is one of the most popular stories in the bible. In the middle of the night, he sends all of his family members and all of his gifts to the west side of the Jordan, while he remained at camp. Wisely Jacob spent the night in prayer.
"Think of all Jacob had to pray about: thanking God, remembering all that the LORD did for him, wondering how God would fulfill His work in him. This was a significant turning point in Jacob’s life and he knew it." (Guzik)
Then, Jacob has a mysterious encounter with a man, most likely an angel of God, who looked like a man. Others interpret this as none other than Christ himself. Later he says, "For I have come face to face with God and lived". As Jacob wrestles with this man, (we are not told why they were wrestling), it says it was a even match, though some say the man could have overpowered him with supernatural strength if he so desired. Jacob says to him vehemently, "I will not let you go until you bless me". This shows Jacob's tenancity and quite frankly his desire for the blessing. Though he had received his father's blessing perhaps he needed it to be re-affirmed before he went to meet his brother.
The angel asks Jacob what his name is. When Jacob replies, the angel gives him a new name, "Israel".
"Through his past, Jacob was always clever and sneaky enough so he never felt the need to trust in God alone. Now he could only rely on the blessing of God. Jacob was reduced to the place where all he could do was to hold on to the LORD with everything he had. Jacob could not fight anymore, but he could hold on. That is not a bad place to be." (Guzik)
The angel gave Jacob the new name of "Israel", which is used to this day to describe the Jewish nation.
"The name Israel is a compound of two words: sarah (meaning, fight, struggle, or rule) and el (meaning, God). Some take the name Israel to mean, He who struggles with God or He who rules with God." (Guzik)
In the end, Jacob got what he wanted ... the blessing!
"We note that He blessed him there – at that particular place. The place of special trial and testing. The place of intense pleading to God. The place of seeing the face of God. The place of conscious weakness." (Guzik)
Jacob and Esau Make Peace
Finally, Jacob and Esau reunite, and the results could not have been better for Jacob. When Esau sees Jacob and his family and flocks he runs to meet him. They embrace and both weep. Esau inquires about all of the possessions and family Jacob had acquired. Jacob attributes it to the blessings of the Lord. As they part, Esau offers ten of his men to go with him to protect him. Jacob tells him this is not necessary. His warm reception is enough.
"Esau and Jacob did not feel a need to discuss and resolve the past. God worked in both their hearts, and there was no need to discuss or argue over it all again. What was past was past." (Guzik)
To mark this significant moment, Jacob erects an altar at Shechem called "El Elohe Israel", which means, "God, the God of Israel". It seems that Jacob may have compromised a little, because he did not go all the way south down to Bethel, as God had commanded him where he appeared to him there. Genesis 31:13
Also see Jacob's Dream at Bethel. Genesis 28:10-22
Revenge Against Shechem
Next, we come across quite an interesting story, possibly the result of Jacob not going all the way south to Bethel. Shechem, a prince in the town, raped Dinah, Jacob and Leah's daughter. Afterward it appears he fell in love with her and asked his father to go to Jacob and ask him if his son could marry her.
Meanwhile when Dinah's brothers came in from the field, they were shocked and outraged about what had happened to their sister. So the brothers hatched a sinister plan. They reasoned with Shechem and his father if all the men of the town would be circumcised, they would allow their sister to be married to Shechem. When Shechem and his father present this plan to all the townspeople, they sell by saying if other men intermarry with Jacob's daughters and servants, they will become quite prosperous. The townspeople agree to have all the men circumcised.
Little did they know that the brothers had another plan. Three days after the men were still sore from circumcision (ouch!), Reuben and Simeon (Leah's two full brothers) slaughtered all the men and seized their wives, children, donkeys, and herds. When Jacob found out about all that had occurred, he was angry and told them that now they would be a target for all the peoples in the area. The brothers are not swayed and only remark, "We will not let our sister be treated as a prostitute."
In summary Guzik says this quite aptly about the whole incident,
"This chapter contains one of the most shameful incidents in Israel’s history. A terrible crime was committed against Dinah the daughter of Leah, but the response by her brothers was worse than the crime. When the Bible shows its leaders and heroes in such terrible, plain truth, we can know for sure that it is a book from God. Men don’t normally write about themselves and their ancestors like this." (Guzik)
The other thing about this story was that if the daughters of Jacob had intermarried with the men of Shechem, it would have tainted the line of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, which was not meant to be undefiled. It was the Messianic line and needed to be kept pure according to the promise.
New Testament Reading -Matthew 11:7-30
Chapter 11 starts as John the Baptist is reintroduced. He wants to know if Jesus really was the Messiah, and Jesus sends his disciples to tell him about Jesus' preaching of the Good News, his works, and miracles. Then, he turns to the crowds to talk about John.
Jesus points to the prophecy in Malachi 3:6, which pointed out a messenger, who would prepare the way for the Messiah. Though the other prophets pointed to Jesus, John the Baptist actually welcomed and announced him in person. This is why Jesus calls John the greatest prophet who ever lived.
John was the last person to be a prophet before the giving of the Holy Spirit. This is why Jesus says even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than John. He is not putting John down, just stating the reality of what the Holy Spirit would bring.
"Though John was great, he was not born again under the New Covenant. This is because he lived and died before the completion of Jesus’ work at the cross and empty tomb. Therefore, he did not enjoy the benefits of the New Covenant." (Guzik)
Jesus clarifies by saying that John's role was the outcropping of all the prophets who had gone before him, like Elijah. Even Moses' purpose in bringing the Law to Israelites point to the fact that only Jesus could fulfill the true intent of the Law.
"Jesus saw an era ending with John; all the prophets and the law anticipated John and his ministry as a herald. There is a sense in which John spoke for every prophet who heralded Jesus’ coming. Under the Old Covenant, every other prophet announced, “The Messiah is coming.” John alone had the privilege of saying, “The Messiah is here.”" (Guzik)
Judgment for All Unbelievers
We don't often see Jesus talk about the judgment of unbelievers, but he does so here. And specifically the judgment for the towns of Korazin, Bethsaid, Tyre, Sidon and Capernaum. iThey refused to believe the miracles done so powerfully right in front of them. Jesus even compares them to Sodom and Gomorrah (which was an extremely wicked place) and says that even they would have repented if they had seen what these towns had seen.
“These cities did not attack Jesus Christ; they did not drive him from their gates; they did not seek to crucify him; they simply disregarded him. Neglect can kill as much as persecution can.” (Barclay)
Jesus' Prayer of Thanksgiving
Jesus starts his prayer by thanking God that he had not revealed himself to those who thought they were really smart, but to those who had childlike faith. It was God's will to reveal those to some and not others. This is mystery we don't understand, but he gives Jesus the prerogative to make this call. Jesus clearly acts upon the Father's will in choosing those to whom he reveals the Father to.
This reminds of Jesus' words in John where he says, "You didn't not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to bear fruit, fruit that will last." (John 15:16)
Finally, Jesus gives some of my favorites words of his in the whole bible. You would do well to memorize these words.
“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.” Verses 28-29
Are you weary and burdened? Go to Jesus. Are you tired? Go to Jesus. Are you anxious? Go to Jesus. His yoke is easy. His burden is light. He doesn't want you to carry it on your own. Give it to him today.
The psalmist reflects Jesus' words in the above passage. King David writes,
"The Lord looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise, if anyone seeks God. But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, not a single one!" verses 2-3
Fortunately for us, God does not judge us on our goodness, but on the merits of Christ!
Many people experience a lot of fear at night. They worry about the unknown things that might harm them. As we listen to the voice of wisdom, the Proverbs give us this promise today.
"When you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the Lord will be at your side and will keep your foot from being snared." Verses 24-26
"What Now" Study Questions
El Elohe Israel - Mighty is the God of Israel! When you are weary remember, the God of Israel is your Mighty God, too!
How are your wrestling skills? Jacob would not let go of God until he received a blessing. Are you willing to hold on to God with that sort of fervor? Do you have any scars, like Jacob's limp, from holding on to God? Share the story of your scars with someone today who needs encouragement in their faith.
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