ON THE DAY OF DOUBT

Here we are, on the day of doubt in Jacob's mind--the day he plans to meet his brother, Esau.  Will he hate me, be revengeful, or will he forgive? "I haven't seen him since the day I cheated him out of  his inheritance. Oh, what did I do? Why was it so important?"


Jacob looked up and there was Esau in the distance, coming with his four-hundred men. Quickly thinking, he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two maidservants.  He put the maidservants with their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear.  He himself went on ahead, bowing down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.


But Esau was already running to meet Jacob, embracing him. Then, he threw his arms around Jacob's neck and kissed him.  At that, they both wept.  When Esau saw the women and children, he asked, "Who are these with you?" Jacob answered, "They are the children God has graciously given your servant."


Then the maidservants and their children approached and bowed down.  Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down.  Last of all came Jacob and Rachel, and they, too, bowed down.


Esau asked, "What do you mean by sending the droves of animals I met earlier?" "To find favor in your eyes, my lord," Jacob said.  But Esau said, "I already have plenty, my brother.  Keep what you have for yourself!  But Jacob insisted, saying, "God has been gracious to me and I have all I need."  And because Jacob insisted, Esau acccepted.


So that day Esau started back to his home.  Jacob, however, went another way when, in Succoth, he built a place for himself and his family and shelters for his livestock. (End of story)


Many have wondered why Jacob did not tell Esau where he was going.  Was he still wondering if Esau would take revenge on him sometime in the future?  If so, he would always live in fear.  We have not been given the reason Jacob picked first Succoth, but Succoth is a beautiful city on the eastern side of the Jordan River.  Whatever the reason, Jacob and Esau parted in peace.  But they still lived fairly close to each other until after their father, Isaac's, death.


Rachel later had another son, Benjamin, and thereby, all of Jacob's sons became The twelve tribes of Israel.


Remember, God's angel changed Jacob's name. Jacob's new name is Israel.


Continue to follow the blogging which appears almost every day, if you will.  I enjoy doing it for you.  God guides me, and so does my Bible. Most of all, I hope these stories of people who appear in the bible making their mistakes will help us in our mistakes to stay close to God, our strength and our redeemer.


Jo INMN