February 25, 2013
FACING OUR FAILURES
Genesis 33
Monte Dunn
Central Truth
We often find it difficult to face up to our past failures, even when we realize that, by ignoring the past, we are damaging our future. When we grasp the courage to face our failures, we can find forgiveness, restoration, and a future no longer limited by our past.
Key Verse | Genesis 33:4
Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. (Genesis 33:4)
Genesis 33
Jacob Meets Esau
1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants. 2 And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. 3 He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
4 But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. 5 And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” 6 Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down. 7 Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down. And last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down. 8 Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company 1 33:8 Hebrew camp that I met?” Jacob answered, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” 9 But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” 10 Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me. 11 Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Thus he urged him, and he took it.
12 Then Esau said, “Let us journey on our way, and I will go ahead of 2 33:12 Or along with you.” 13 But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and that the nursing flocks and herds are a care to me. If they are driven hard for one day, all the flocks will die. 14 Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will lead on slowly, at the pace of the livestock that are ahead of me and at the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.”
15 So Esau said, “Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” 16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17 But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. 3 33:17 Succoth means booths
18 And Jacob came safely 4 33:18 Or peacefully to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city. 19 And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, he bought for a hundred pieces of money 5 33:19 Hebrew a hundred qesitah; a unit of money of unknown value the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent. 20 There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel. 6 33:20 El-Elohe-Israel means God, the God of Israel
Dive Deeper | Genesis 33
Do you find, as I do, that you fear the unknown? Sometimes, however, we fear the known even more. This fear is especially strong when we know we have to face our past mistakes and failures. I often want to keep the past hidden, or at least ignore it, even though I realize I am only masking the problem by failing to confront it. I am really not good at apologizing, much less accepting the blame. My wife can attest to this, but thanks to ReEngage, I am getting better. While we may not intend to hurt someone else, we often do, and failure to face the reality of this hurts not only the other person, but it hurts us, too. The casual curt reply, the intentional snub, and the gossip that makes us look or feel better all weigh us down until our relationships are shallow or even destroyed.
Jacob did not just innocently hurt Esau. He had not only taken Esau's birthright, but he had also tricked his own father into giving him the blessing meant for his older brother. Then Jacob fled the country because he was afraid of Esau's wrath. Jacob had reason to assume that Esau would take every opportunity to cause him hurt and pain if given the opportunity. After years of fearing Esau, holding onto his own pain, and being hurt by others, Jacob decided to return to the promises God had given him. Once Jacob returned to the life God wanted for him, he experienced more of God's provision. When Jacob approached Esau, he came seeking forgiveness and restoration. What he did not expect is that God had already changed Esau's heart, and Esau was ready to meet Jacob with the acceptance and forgiveness that Jacob not only desired, but desperately needed.
I have experienced that when we acknowledge the hurts we have caused along with the hurts we have received and seek God's forgiveness and restoration, God will work miracles in our lives.
Discussion Questions
1. Have you found yourself fearing something you did in the past, someone you hurt, or someone who hurt you?
2. What problems has this fear caused for you? What problems has it caused for your relationship with that person and others around you?
3. Have you faced up to the hurt you have caused others, brought it to God, and then to the person you hurt?
4. Have you recognized that others have hurt you, brought it to God, and then to the other person?