So, let’s see what happened.
(Genesis 33)
Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so, he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two female servants. 2 He put the female servants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. 3 He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.
4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. 5 Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. ‘Who are these with you?’ he asked.
Jacob answered, ‘They are the children God has graciously given your servant.’
6 Then the female servants and their children approached and bowed down. 7 Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down. Last of all came Joseph and Rachel, and they too bowed down.
8 Esau asked, ‘What’s the meaning of all these flocks and herds I met?’
‘To find favour in your eyes, my lord,’ he said.
9 But Esau said, ‘I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.’
–So, Esau wasn’t angry? –
Nope.
–Well, that is a bit anticlimactic. I wanted to see Jacob go against the 400!–
The thing is, this story was never really about Jacob and Esau being reunited, but rather Jacob being reunited with God and his blessing.
It was about showing us that if we really want to be blessed, there may be times where it is going to require a limp or two. It’s when God breaks us and strips us of our self-reliance that we will finally be free to see Him face-to-face.
But it doesn’t stop there. A blessing isn’t made for just you alone. A blessing from God is always intended to continue through to someone else.
The blessing that Jacob went through so much for was passed down to his grandsons.
–But what about his…–
Yes, he also blessed his sons, in Genesis 49.
–Okay cool I was just checking cause you know, I wanted things to be fair and all tha–
Anyways, Hebrews 11:21 says: “By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshipped as he leaned on the top of his staff.”
You might’ve heard of Hall of Fame. But Jacob, among others, made the Hall of Faith because he learned how to view his blessing as God views it.
–Hall of faith? –
Check Hebrews 11 if you want to know more about it and the other inductees. This transformation in Jacob lasted throughout his lifetime and even affected his final decision at his death.
–What happened to at his death? –
Well, we all know how much Jacob loved Rachel. The Bible makes it extremely clear. And I’ve got to say, it’s almost sad how much Leah desired a connection with Jacob, despite his clear favouritism to where even the naming of her four sons were done with Jacob in mind.
• Reuben: “Behold, a son.” Leah was literally calling out to Jacob saying “Look I’ve given you a son, even when Rachel couldn’t.”
• Simeon: “God is listening.” In a time where Jacob associated Leah with deceit and number her for it, God was the only one who was willing to listen to her.
• Levi: “Joined, attached.” Leah once again expressed her desire for a connection with Jacob.
• Judah: “Praise.” By the fourth son, Leah realised that a true blessing can only come from God, and in the end, she was eventually given that blessing she so desperately coveted.
Though Genesis 49, we actually learn that Jacob chose to be buried with Leah.
–Did he fall out of love with Rachel? –
No. We know from Genesis 48:7, that Rachel’s death caused Jacob to sorrow.
–Then why would he want to be buried next to Leah? –
I reckon Jacob got brought in on the plan.
What do I mean?
Well, Leah was the one who gave birth to Judah, who would become the father of David and hence is in the line of Jesus Christ. It was also Leah who gave birth to Levi, one of, if not the forerunner of the tribe especially chosen to serve God in His temple.
What if God brought Jacob in on the plan for the future, and in doing so, Jacob put aside his own vision and desire and chose to be buried next to Leah who had a greater part in God’s purpose and plan?
In death he chose God’s eternal blessing over the love and desire he had for Rachel.
Once we humble ourselves in God’s presence, accepting the brokenness that often wraps His presents, God can bless us greatly, and reveal to us our eternal destiny.
Amen!
Jacob and The Series of Deceptions: Complete
My Sunday Skl 