Genesis 33:1-4 Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming with his four hundred men. He divided the children between Leah and Rachel and the two maidservants. He put the maidservants out in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. He led the way and, as he approached his brother, bowed seven times, honoring his brother. But Esau ran up and embraced him, held him tight and kissed him. And they both wept.
5 Then Esau looked around and saw the women and children: “And who are these with you?”
Jacob said, “The children that God saw fit to bless me with.”
6-7 Then the maidservants came up with their children and bowed; then Leah and her children, also bowing; and finally, Joseph and Rachel came up and bowed to Esau.
8 Esau then asked, “And what was the meaning of all those herds that I met?”
“I was hoping that they would pave the way for my master to welcome me.”
9 Esau said, “Oh, brother. I have plenty of everything—keep what is yours for yourself.”
10-11 Jacob said, “Please. If you can find it in your heart to welcome me, accept these gifts. When I saw your face, it was as the face of God smiling on me. Accept the gifts I have brought for you. God has been good to me and I have more than enough.” Jacob urged the gifts on him and Esau accepted.
12 Then Esau said, “Let’s start out on our way; I’ll take the lead.”
13-14 But Jacob said, “My master can see that the children are frail. And the flocks and herds are nursing, making for slow going. If I push them too hard, even for a day, I’d lose them all. So, master, you go on ahead of your servant, while I take it easy at the pace of my flocks and children. I’ll catch up with you in Seir.”
15 Esau said, “Let me at least lend you some of my men.”
“There’s no need,” said Jacob. “Your generous welcome is all I need or want.”
16 So Esau set out that day and made his way back to Seir.
17 And Jacob left for Succoth. He built a shelter for himself and sheds for his livestock. That’s how the place came to be called Succoth (Sheds).
18-20 And that’s how it happened that Jacob arrived all in one piece in Shechem in the land of Canaan—all the way from Paddan Aram. He camped near the city. He bought the land where he pitched his tent from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem. He paid a hundred silver coins for it. Then he built an altar there and named it El-Elohe-Israel (Mighty Is the God of Israel).
It’s an absolute miracle! After weeks of agonizing over how to handle the meeting with Esau, Jacob finds that God has already been working in Esau’s heart. Esau has just arrived heading an army of 400 warriors. Trembling with fear, Jacob leads the way, followed by the maid servants with their children, Leah with her children, and finally, Rachel and Joseph. To indicate complete subservience, Jacob approaches Esau, falling to his knees and bowing seven times. But Esau runs to Jacob, pulling him up from the ground, hugging him and kissing him, weeping as he does so. When Jacob realizes what Esau is doing, he immediately bursts into tears as well. Jacob is weeping for two reasons: he’s weeping at the sight of his brother but also with relief that Esau is not going to slaughter his family and him.
Eventually, Esau takes the lead back to Canaan and Jacob settles near Shechem. In gratitude for all God has done, Jacob builds an altar and names it El-Elohe-Israel, or “Mighty is the God of Israel.” Although the Bible doesn’t specifically mention blood sacrifices, nobody builds an altar unless they are going to perform sacrifices as well. Why would Jacob do such a thing? Jacob left Canaan as a penniless young man, running for his life. Now Jacob has 2 wives, 2 concubines, 11 sons, and so much livestock that he can afford to give Esau herds as a present. Genesis 32:13-15 tells us, “Then he prepared a present for his brother Esau from his possessions: two hundred female goats, twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty camels with their nursing young, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys.” Not only has God prospered Jacob, but He has also given Jacob a special blessing.
These days, we don’t perform animal sacrifices to show our gratitude. But there are still other ways we can make sacrifices. We can sacrifice our time, our money, or our talents. We can see those around us who are suffering. I have become addicted to online stories about people like store clerks, waiters and waitresses, laundromat attendants, janitors, school crossing guards, and school lunch ladies who notice those quietly suffering and begin doing small things to relieve that suffering and encourage those struggling to survive. One farmer in the American South quietly donated money to a local pharmacy for years so that those short of funds would still be able to fill their prescriptions.
Never underestimate the value of small donations. The used clothing you have in your closet might bless someone who is shivering in rags. Those running shoes you aren’t wearing because they look shabby would warm someone else’s feet. The trick is to find ways of connecting people in need with the answers to their needs. Some people can’t even afford the small amounts of money charged at resale shops such as Salvation Army or St. Vincent de Paul.
My husband and I help patients and their families make up the difference in their bills, and sometimes the amounts that help are less than the cedi equivalent of $3. But for people who have nothing, those small amounts mean the difference between their successful discharge from the hospital or being forced to remain in hopes that a relative will bring money from the village. Sadly, those in the village are just as poor as the patients and their families, making discharge difficult.
I do not tell these stories to boast, for we feel we must help. We give because God impels us to do so. But we also give out of gratitude, knowing that no matter how much we give, God will always bring more so that we can help more people. You cannot out-give God.
May God help each one of us so that we will find new ways of sacrificing and honoring Him as we do so!
PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to give as You lead us, knowing that You can always provide more. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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