Previously we saw Esau hated his brother (Genesis 27:41), but now has forgiven Jacob. As it did with Esau, it often takes some time to have a forgiving heart toward someone who has wronged us. Forgiving those people is a requirement of serving our Heavenly Father. “For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.” (Matthew 6:14-15)
In Genesis 32 we read of Jacob’s fear of his brother Esau. “And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him.” Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps,” (Gen 32:6-7) Their meeting was not how Jacob envisioned it, “But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.” (Gen 33:4) Jacob had worried about nothing. But he did one thing right, as we all should do he prayed to God and trusted in Him.
In Genesis chapter 28 we read of Jacob’s dream of the ladder going into Heaven and God’s promise to him. Just one chapter prior to this, Jacob, with the help of his mother had deceived his father Isaac. What has changed? What was the purpose of God giving Jacob this dream? In the dream He promises Jacob that thru him, “all the families of the earth be blessed.” (Gen 28:14) The dream had to be humbling to Jacob. It was more than a dream like we would have today. Jacob knew this was truly God speaking to him. “Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, ‘Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.’” (Genesis 28:16) This is another instance of God working thru imperfect men. Like Jacob, none of us will ever be perfect, but if we stay close to God and His word we can glorify His name by the way that we live.
In today’s reading we see the account of Esau selling his birthright to his brother for just one meal. (Genesis 25:29-34) There are many points we could make about this incident, but a powerful statement is made that Esau is remembered for this in the New Testament as well. “Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal.” (Hebrews 12:14-16) Sometimes it is not easy to do as the Hebrew writer tells us here and “pursue peace with all men”, but as children of God we should strive to do so daily.
Abraham was a man known for his faith. Another man who showed great faith was Abraham’s servant who was trusted to find a wife for Isaac. He went on his way to find a wife, but when he got close, he prayed. His prayer was for God’s guidance. He knew this was a big responsibility that was placed on him. He did not just sit at home and pray waiting for God to drop a solution into his lap. He went to work while also asking God for guidance. We should pray with the same trust that God will guide us. We know there will be no miraculous sign, but if we are striving toward righteous goals He will be there to lead us on the right path.
We have probably all heard about Lot’s wife and what happened to her. “But Lot’s wife, behind him, looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.” (Genesis 19:26) When this happened, God was destroying Sodom and Gomorrah because of the sinfulness of the people who lived there. God had promised Abraham that if there were just 10 righteous people living there, He would spare the cities. (Genesis 18:32) There were not 10 found. Lot was then given the opportunity to flee the area and save himself, his wife, his daughters and his son-in-laws. The son-in-laws did not leave because they thought it was just a joke. As they were fleeing the area, Lot’s wife looked back one more time. God had provided them an opportunity to escape, He had given them specific instructions on how to do so, and all they had to do was follow His commands. We see what happened to one who did not follow His commands and to the ones who thought is was a joke. In the same way today, we have an opportunity to escape an eternal life in hell. All we have to do is follow His commands.
God promised Abraham that his descendants would be great. (Genesis 12:2, 17:4) Abraham was getting older and wondering if this promise was really going to happen. When God again made this promise to Abraham (17:16), he laughed and questioned to himself how this could happen to a man who was a hundred years old and a woman who was ninety. (17:17) Sarah also laughed when she heard this promise. (18:12) God works in ways we sometimes do not understand, but He always keeps His promises.
We think of Abraham as a man of great faith. When he was still known as Abram, God had already promised him great things: “And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing: And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” (Gen 12:2-3) Then just a few verses down we read of Abram deciding to take things into his own hands. He was afraid of what the Egyptians might do to him so he planned to deceive them by saying Sarai was sister. There was some truth in that statement, (Gen 20:12) but his intentions were to hide the truth and imply that she was not his wife. One lesson we can learn from this situation is that even with a little bit of truth mixed in, when the intent is to deceive, it is still a lie. The Bible reveals to us how God feels about telling lies (Proverbs 6:16-19). Another lesson to learn from this is that we should always trust God and His plans. No matter how great a man’s plan may seem, it is nothing in comparison to God’s plan. We are told that even “the foolishness of God is wiser than men” (1 Corinthians 1:25)
After God had challenged Job with some tough questions, we see the response. “Then Job answered the Lord and said: ‘I know that You can do everything, And that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. You asked, ‘Who is this who hides counsel without knowledge?’ Therefore I have uttered what I did not understand, Things too wonderful for me, which I did not know.’” (Job 42:1-3) It took some hard questions straight from God’s own voice, but Job was completely humbled. He realized that his knowledge was nothing compared to the knowledge of the One who created everything. Paul told the Corinthians (and us) something very similar. “If anyone imagines that he knows something, he does not yet know as he ought to know. But if anyone loves God, he is known by God.” (1 Corinthians 8:2-3)
Elihu continues his speech to Job with descriptions of God’s majesty. As he is listing these powers, he rhetorically asks Job if he is God’s partner in His work. In chapter 38 we read the continued questioning of Job, but this time the questions come from God. Verse 1 tells us that God is talking to Job from a whirlwind and He tells Job to be prepared. “Dress for action like a man; I will question you, and you make it known to me.” (Job 38:3) I would imagine Job was a little scared at this point since he is being told by God to bring forth his best effort. Like Job, none of us can compare to the majesty of our Heavenly Father. The good news is that we do not have to compare to Him. We just need to be willing to follow Him with all of our being and let Him take care of us.