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Reconciled
Dave Pike // Standalone
“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 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 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.
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.”
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 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 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.
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.”
— Genesis 33:1-20 ESV
Outline1. Reconciliation is First with God
“A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.”
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.”
— Psalm 51:1-4 (ESV)
“Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight?”
— 2 Samuel 12:9 (ESV)
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
— Matthew 22:37-39 (ESV)
2. The Heart of Reconciliation involves Restitution
“Let peoples serve you,
and nations bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers,
and may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be everyone who curses you,
and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”
and nations bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers,
and may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be everyone who curses you,
and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”
— Genesis 27:29 (ESV)
“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”
— Genesis 32:11 (ESV)
“8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house.”
— Luke 19:8-9a (ESV)
3. Let The Fruit of Reconciliation be Obedience to God
““My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
— 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)
Small Group StudyUnderstanding the Text (20 min)
What is the larger context of Jacob and Esau’s relationship prior to this reunion? (Gen 25:19-34; Gen 27)
How does God prepare Jacob for this meeting with Esau? (Gen 32:22-32)
At first, it seems that Jacob is back to his old scheming, as he divides his family to prevent them from total slaughter. Yet what evidences do we see that Jacob takes responsibility and actively pursues reconciliation in these verses? (v 1-3, 8)
In light of the fact that Esau has arrived with a small army of 400 men, how is his reaction to Jacob surprising? (v 4)
What does the phrase “For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God” (v 10) tell us about the link between Jacob’s encounter with God the previous night and Esau’s favorable reaction towards him?
Preceding their meeting, Jacob sends a gift to Esau (Gen 32:13-18). What is the significance of the gift that Jacob has sent to Esau and what does it say about Jacob’s heart towards his brother? (v 10-11)
Esau offers for Jacob’s family to join him in Seir (v 12). Why would it be wrong for Jacob to accept this offer of hospitality?
God had called Jacob to return to the promised land of Bethel (Gen 28:13; 31:13). He chooses instead to settle in Shechem. What is the result of Jacob’s failure to fully obey God? (Gen 34)
Jacob was gripped with fear as he prepared to meet Esau. Read Proverbs 9:10. How does this verse help us to overcome the fear of facing up to those we have wronged?
Based on how God prepared Jacob for his reconciliation with Esau, where should we first turn to if we are in need of attempting reconciliation with someone? What does this look like?
Jacob makes restitution with Esau for the wrongs he did to him. Read Luke 19:8. How does Zacchaeus’ response to Jesus reflect the way we should see our hearts respond to reconciliation that God brings about in our lives?
Despite all that God had done for him, Jacob failed to fully obey God by settling in Shechem and not continuing on to Bethel. What does this tell us about the nature of the human heart?
Take some time to split up within the group and to pray for each other. Ask that God would give you a heart of repentance towards him, and a heart of reconciliation towards each other. Pray that God would regularly remind you of your weaknesses and need to rely on him for the grace to be obedient to His word.
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By United Community ChurchDave Pike // Standalone
“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 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 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.
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.”
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 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 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.
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.”
— Genesis 33:1-20 ESV
Outline1. Reconciliation is First with God
“A Psalm of David, when Nathan the prophet went to him, after he had committed adultery with Bathsheba.
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.”
1 Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. 2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin! 3 For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. 4 Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.”
— Psalm 51:1-4 (ESV)
“Why have you despised the word of the Lord, to do what is evil in his sight?”
— 2 Samuel 12:9 (ESV)
“You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
— Matthew 22:37-39 (ESV)
2. The Heart of Reconciliation involves Restitution
“Let peoples serve you,
and nations bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers,
and may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be everyone who curses you,
and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”
and nations bow down to you.
Be lord over your brothers,
and may your mother’s sons bow down to you.
Cursed be everyone who curses you,
and blessed be everyone who blesses you!”
— Genesis 27:29 (ESV)
“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”
— Genesis 32:11 (ESV)
“8 And Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor. And if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I restore it fourfold.” 9 And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house.”
— Luke 19:8-9a (ESV)
3. Let The Fruit of Reconciliation be Obedience to God
““My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”
— 2 Corinthians 12:9 (ESV)
Small Group StudyUnderstanding the Text (20 min)
What is the larger context of Jacob and Esau’s relationship prior to this reunion? (Gen 25:19-34; Gen 27)
How does God prepare Jacob for this meeting with Esau? (Gen 32:22-32)
At first, it seems that Jacob is back to his old scheming, as he divides his family to prevent them from total slaughter. Yet what evidences do we see that Jacob takes responsibility and actively pursues reconciliation in these verses? (v 1-3, 8)
In light of the fact that Esau has arrived with a small army of 400 men, how is his reaction to Jacob surprising? (v 4)
What does the phrase “For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God” (v 10) tell us about the link between Jacob’s encounter with God the previous night and Esau’s favorable reaction towards him?
Preceding their meeting, Jacob sends a gift to Esau (Gen 32:13-18). What is the significance of the gift that Jacob has sent to Esau and what does it say about Jacob’s heart towards his brother? (v 10-11)
Esau offers for Jacob’s family to join him in Seir (v 12). Why would it be wrong for Jacob to accept this offer of hospitality?
God had called Jacob to return to the promised land of Bethel (Gen 28:13; 31:13). He chooses instead to settle in Shechem. What is the result of Jacob’s failure to fully obey God? (Gen 34)
Jacob was gripped with fear as he prepared to meet Esau. Read Proverbs 9:10. How does this verse help us to overcome the fear of facing up to those we have wronged?
Based on how God prepared Jacob for his reconciliation with Esau, where should we first turn to if we are in need of attempting reconciliation with someone? What does this look like?
Jacob makes restitution with Esau for the wrongs he did to him. Read Luke 19:8. How does Zacchaeus’ response to Jesus reflect the way we should see our hearts respond to reconciliation that God brings about in our lives?
Despite all that God had done for him, Jacob failed to fully obey God by settling in Shechem and not continuing on to Bethel. What does this tell us about the nature of the human heart?
Take some time to split up within the group and to pray for each other. Ask that God would give you a heart of repentance towards him, and a heart of reconciliation towards each other. Pray that God would regularly remind you of your weaknesses and need to rely on him for the grace to be obedient to His word.
Back to Bulletin