The Face of God

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

THE FACE OF GOD

Gen 33:1-11

33:1 Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two maidservants. 2 He put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. 3 He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. 4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. 5 Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. "Who are these with you?" he asked. Jacob answered, "They are the children God has graciously given your servant." 6 Then the maidservants and their children approached and bowed down. 7 Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down. Last of all came Joseph and Rachel, and they too bowed down. 8 Esau asked, "What do you mean by all these droves I met?" "To find favor in your eyes, my lord," he said. 9 But Esau said, "I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself." 10 "No, please!" said Jacob. "If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably. 11 Please accept the present that was brought to you, for God has been gracious to me and I have all I need." And because Jacob insisted, Esau accepted it.

NIV

Although we could focus on the events that unfolded in this narrative, an underlying truth glares at us. Jacob had all kinds of apprehension concerning Esau coming to meet him with four hundred men. Therefore, he took as many precautions as he thought would protect his family, dividing his family according to the mothers and their children, noticing he put Rachel and Joseph in the rear. However, what is most interesting to us is Jacob's comment when he finally met his brother. But first, the fact that Esau ran and embraced Jacob is another of those great truths we should consider. We know Jacob had sinned against Esau, not just once, but twice. We know wrath was in the heart of Esau with his intent to kill Jacob, but at this meeting, Esau runs to embrace Jacob. Is this not our story? We have sinned against God and by all accounts should be subject to his wrath, however, because of love for us, he sent his Son to take on that wrath for us. Still, God runs toward us to embrace us. There is no wrath poured out on those who accept His Son as their Savior. God is always ready to embrace us when we come to him. Of course, Jacob thought that sending all the gifts, or offerings would deter the wrath of Esau. Once again, we can learn we cannot give God anything to deter his wrath or appease him, for he gave us the gift of his Son. All we can do is accept the embrace of God. This is the underlying truth we see when Esau embraced Jacob and accepted the gifts Jacob said when he saw the face of Esau, he saw the face of God. Of course, gifts or offerings are not needed to see the face of God, but here is the truth. When we offend someone if that should happen, and most likely not intentionally, like Jacob did to Esau when we go to them and ask for forgiveness and they embrace us, showing love instead of wrath, we would be seeing the face of God. Because we are the image bearers of God, created in their image, when we forgive as God forgives us, when they find favor with us, we shine with the glory of God, so those who have offended us, would see in our forgiveness, the face of God.