11Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two maidservants. among Leah, Rachel and the two maidservants. 22He He put the maidservants and their children in front, put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. in the rear. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Is Jacob’s fear reasonable?Is Jacob’s fear reasonable?

Is it necessary?Is it necessary?

If Esau attacks, he has set his family in order of If Esau attacks, he has set his family in order of importance to his posterity.importance to his posterity.

11Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two maidservants. among Leah, Rachel and the two maidservants. 22He He put the maidservants and their children in front, put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear.in the rear. 33He himself went on ahead and bowed He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.his brother.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The groveling is probably the right action, The groveling is probably the right action, although his motivation is more from fear than although his motivation is more from fear than godly sorrow.godly sorrow.

11Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two maidservants. among Leah, Rachel and the two maidservants. 22He He put the maidservants and their children in front, put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. in the rear. 33He himself went on ahead and bowed He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. his brother. 44But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. And they wept. 55Then Esau looked up and saw the Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. “Who are these with you?” he women and children. “Who are these with you?” he asked. asked. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

What was he afraid of?What was he afraid of?

God took the last twenty years to change Esau’s God took the last twenty years to change Esau’s heart.heart.

11Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two maidservants. among Leah, Rachel and the two maidservants. 22He He put the maidservants and their children in front, put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. in the rear. 33He himself went on ahead and bowed He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. his brother. 44But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. And they wept. 55Then Esau looked up and saw the Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. “Who are these with you?” he women and children. “Who are these with you?” he asked. asked. Jacob answered, “They are the children God has Jacob answered, “They are the children God has graciously given your servant.” graciously given your servant.” 66Then the maidservants and their children Then the maidservants and their children approached and bowed down. approached and bowed down. 77Next, Leah and her Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down.children came and bowed down. Last of all came Last of all came Joseph and Rachel, and they too bowed down. Joseph and Rachel, and they too bowed down.

88Esau asked, “What do you mean by all these Esau asked, “What do you mean by all these droves I met?”droves I met?” “ “To find favor in your eyes, my lord,” he said. To find favor in your eyes, my lord,” he said. 99But Esau said, “I already have plenty, my brother. But Esau said, “I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.” Keep what you have for yourself.” 1010“No, please!” said Jacob. “If I have found favor in “No, please!” said Jacob. “If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably. have received me favorably. 1111Please accept the Please accept the present that was brought to you, for God has been present that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need.”gracious to me and I have all I need.” And because And because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it. Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Seeing that Jacob left Canaan with nothing, Esau Seeing that Jacob left Canaan with nothing, Esau became the default “firstborn” and did very well. became the default “firstborn” and did very well. No harm, no foul.No harm, no foul.

Jacob probably insists on Esau keeping the gifts Jacob probably insists on Esau keeping the gifts as a sort of peace treaty. Esau will lose face if he as a sort of peace treaty. Esau will lose face if he attacks once accepting the gifts.attacks once accepting the gifts.

1212Then Esau said, “Let us be on our way; I’ll Then Esau said, “Let us be on our way; I’ll accompany you.” accompany you.” 1313But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are tender and that I must care for the children are tender and that I must care for the ewes and cows that are nursing their young.ewes and cows that are nursing their young. If they If they are driven hard just one day, all the animals will die. are driven hard just one day, all the animals will die. 1414So let my lord go on ahead of his servant, while I So let my lord go on ahead of his servant, while I move along slowly at the pace of the droves before move along slowly at the pace of the droves before me and that of the children, until I come to my lord me and that of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.” in Seir.” 1515Esau said, “Then let me leave some of my men Esau said, “Then let me leave some of my men with you.” with you.” “ “But why do that?” Jacob asked. “Just let me find But why do that?” Jacob asked. “Just let me find favor in the eyes of my lord.”favor in the eyes of my lord.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Is Jacob still not trusting of Esau, or is he just Is Jacob still not trusting of Esau, or is he just trying not to be a nuisance? trying not to be a nuisance?

He does not intend to go to Seir at all; again, he He does not intend to go to Seir at all; again, he does not trust God enough to be honest with his does not trust God enough to be honest with his brother.brother.

He will not walk in the grace that God has He will not walk in the grace that God has provided.provided.

1616So that day Esau So that day Esau started on his way back started on his way back to Seir. to Seir. 1717Jacob, Jacob, however, went to however, went to Succoth, where he built Succoth, where he built a place for himself and a place for himself and made shelters for his made shelters for his livestock. That is why livestock. That is why the place is called the place is called Succoth. Succoth. 1818After Jacob came After Jacob came from Paddan Aram, he from Paddan Aram, he arrived safely at the arrived safely at the city of Shechem in city of Shechem in Canaan and camped Canaan and camped within sight of the city. within sight of the city. 1919For a hundred pieces For a hundred pieces of silver,of silver, he bought he bought from the sons of from the sons of Hamor, the father of Hamor, the father of Shechem, the plot of Shechem, the plot of ground where he ground where he pitched his tent. pitched his tent. 2020There he set up an There he set up an altar and called it El altar and called it El Elohe Israel.Elohe Israel.

Knowing truth verses doing truth:Knowing truth verses doing truth:What is it that engages the life to actually What is it that engages the life to actually follow what the heart/mind acknowledges to follow what the heart/mind acknowledges to be true?be true?

Jacob has every reason to no longer lie or Jacob has every reason to no longer lie or deceive, but still does. He will not trust deceive, but still does. He will not trust enough to stop relying on himself. enough to stop relying on himself.

David and GoliathDavid and Goliath

Saul ~ I Samuel 24:20 Saul ~ I Samuel 24:20

Leaving “egotheism” behind. (I am not Leaving “egotheism” behind. (I am not sovereign)sovereign)

Acts 20:24; Galatians 2:20; Joshua 24 24 Acts 20:24; Galatians 2:20; Joshua 24 24

““Your will be done.”Your will be done.”

The natural platform The natural platform about 30 feet above the about 30 feet above the

water.water.

Lean until you have to Lean until you have to fall.fall.

The small steps.The small steps.

Split Rock Falls, near Split Rock Falls, near Elizabethtown, New YorkElizabethtown, New York

Lean until you have to Lean until you have to fall.fall.

The small steps.The small steps.