Genesis 33:1-3
Jan and I enjoy being part of our family, in fact we have
often hosted both sides of the family for a reunion at our home. This year we hosted Jan’s mother’s side
of the family, and it was a great time for all, we had about one hundred people
who were part of the Mabry family.
Two weeks later we drove to Estes Park, Colorado, to be part of the
Golden’ reunion on my mother’s side of the family, and it was a great time of remembering
our parents, and just catching up on what each of the families are doing.
Some of Jan’s family had not been together for forty years
and one day was not enough time to catch-up, but what if those who had been
away from the family had left with bad blood between them and other members of
the family; that’s where Jacob found himself. Picking up the story in verse one; “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. And he put the servants with their
children in front, then Leah and with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last
of all. He himself went on before
them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his
brother.”
Many things become clear in these
three verses, and one that jumps off the page is that Jacob is a little
hesitant, tentative, and uncertain about this family reunion. On a scale of 1-10, ten being the top
end of Jacob’s emotions, he is maxing out at twelve. All Jacob can see is 400 men coming and it does not look
good. It is also very clear how he
values each member of his family and though all turned out well with Esau, his
sons never forgot that their dad put Joseph in the far back were he stood the
best chance of survival.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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