GENESIS: - Bethel Community Church

Dr. Paul Jorden, Associate Pastor

Finding ReconciliationGenesis 33:1-20

G E N E S I S :

Finding Reconciliation

Finding ReconciliationGenesis 33:1-20 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. -

Finding Reconciliation5 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 that I met?” Jacob answered, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” -

Finding Reconciliation9 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 you.” -

Finding Reconciliation13 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.” -

Finding Reconciliation16 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. 18 And Jacob came safely 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 the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent. 20 There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel. (ESV)


I. It is God who brings reconciliation even though we may exhibit weakness in our faith.

A. Fear and guilt are motivators for seeking much needed reconciliation. 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. -



A. Fear and guilt are motivators for seeking much needed reconciliation. 2 And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all.



A. Fear and guilt are motivators for seeking much needed reconciliation. • Psalms 133:1 Behold, how good and pleasant it is when

brothers dwell in unity!



B. Humility and caution are essential for reconciliation. 3 He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.



B. Humility and caution are essential for reconciliation. • 1 Peter 5:5-6 …Clothe yourselves, all of you, with

humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,



C. Making restitution for our wrong is necessary, but it is God who brings about reconciliation. 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.” -



C. Making restitution for our wrong is necessary, but it is God who brings about reconciliation. 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.



C. Making restitution for our wrong is necessary, but it is God who brings about reconciliation. • Leviticus 6:4-5 if he has sinned and has realized his guilt

and will restore what he took by robbery or what he got by oppression or the deposit that was committed to him or the lost thing that he found 5 or anything about which he has sworn falsely, he shall restore it in full -



C. Making restitution for our wrong is necessary, but it is God who brings about reconciliation. • and shall add a fifth to it, and give it to him to whom it

belongs on the day he realizes his guilt.



C. Making restitution for our wrong is necessary, but it is God who brings about reconciliation. • Genesis 32:9-11 And Jacob said, “O God of my father

Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ 10 I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness -



C. Making restitution for our wrong is necessary, but it is God who brings about reconciliation. • that you have shown to your servant, for with only my

staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. 11 Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children.



D. Extending and receiving grace confirms reconciliation. 8 Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company 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 -



D. Extending and receiving grace confirms reconciliation. 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.



D. Extending and receiving grace confirms reconciliation. • Romans 12:16-21 Live in harmony with one another. Do

not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. 17 Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. 18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. 19 Beloved, never avenge yourselves, -



D. Extending and receiving grace confirms reconciliation. • but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written,

“Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” 20 To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.


II. We need not use deception in fulfilling God’s calling.

A. With reconciliation, we can go our separate ways in peace. 12 Then Esau said, “Let us journey on our way, and I will go ahead of 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. -



B. Deception is not necessary for us to obey God’s call for us in our lives. 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. -



B. Deception is not necessary for us to obey God’s call for us in our lives. 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.

TO

SE

IR

After a reunion with

his Esau (who had

journeyed from

Edom), Jacob set up

camp in Succoth.

Later Jacob moved

on to Shechem and

Esau headed toward

Seir in the distant

south.



C. We experience the blessings of God because of the mercies of God.• Genesis 32:9-12 And Jacob said, “O God of my father

Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ 10 I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that -



C. We experience the blessings of God because of the mercies of God.• you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I

crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. 11 Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. 12 But you -



C. We experience the blessings of God because of the mercies of God.• said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring

as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”



C. We experience the blessings of God because of the mercies of God.• Lamentations 3:22-23 The steadfast love of the Lord

never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.


III. We are to exalt God when he brings about reconciliation.

A. We are to seek to be reconciled with God.18 And Jacob came safely 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 the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent.



A. We are to seek to be reconciled with God.• 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 All this is from God, who through

Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their

trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.



B. We affirm through worship that God is mighty and faithful to His promises.20 There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.



C. We are to pursue reconciliation with people.• Matthew 5:21-26 “You have heard that it was said to those

of old, You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. -



C. We are to pursue reconciliation with people.• 23 So if you are offering your gift at the - altar and there

remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you -



C. We are to pursue reconciliation with people.• over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be

put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.


Reconciliation is a gracious work of Godwhich we are to pursue by faith

and acknowledge in praise.

G E N E S I S :

GENESIS: - Bethel Community Church

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