Latest / Commentary on The Book of Genesis / 36 - Commentary on The Book of Genesis

Transcript

36 - Commentary on The Book of Genesis · Commentary on The Book of Genesis

0:00
Chapter thirty three. We read in the former chapter how Jacob had power with
0:05
God and prevailed. Here we find what power he had with men too,
0:11
and how his brother Esau was mollified and on a sudden reconciled to him.
0:17
For it is written Proverbs chapter twenty five, verse seven. When a man's
0:22
ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with
0:27
him. Here is numeral one, a very friendly meeting between Jacob and Esau,
0:35
Verses one through four, Numeral two. Their conference at their meeting,
0:40
in which they vie with each other in civil and kind expressions. Their discourse
0:46
is number one about Jacob's family Verses five through seven, Number two about the
0:54
present he had sent, Verses eight through eleven. Number three about the progress
1:00
of their journey Verses twelve through fifteen, Numeral three. Jacob's settlement in Canaan,
1:08
his house ground an Altar, Verses sixteen through twenty. Jacob's interview with
1:15
Esau v. C. Seventeen thirty nine, Verse one. And Jacob lifted
1:22
up his eyes and looked, and behold Esau came and with him four hundred
1:27
men, And he divided the children unto Leah and unto Rachel and unto the
1:34
two handmaids verse two. And he put the handmaids and their children foremost,
1:41
and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hinder most verse three.
1:48
And he passed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times,
1:53
until he came near to his brother verse four. And Esau ran to
1:57
meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him,
2:02
and they wept here Number one. Jacob discovered Esau's approach verse one.
2:10
Some think that this lifting up his eyes denotes his cheerfulness and confidence in opposition
2:16
to a dejected countenance. Having by prayer committed his case to God, he
2:23
went on his way, and his countenance was no more sad. First Samuel
2:30
chapter one, verse eighteen. Note those that have cast their care upon God
2:37
may look before them with satisfaction and composure of mind, cheerfully expecting the issue,
2:44
whatever it may be, come what will. Nothing can come amiss to
2:47
him whose heart is fixed trusting in God. Jacob sets himself upon his watch
2:54
tower to see what answer God will give to his prayers. Habakuk chapter two,
3:00
verse one, numeral two. He put his family into the best order
3:06
he could to receive him, whether he should come as a friend or as
3:09
an enemy, consulting their decency if he came as a friend, and their
3:15
safety if he came as an enemy Verses one and two. Observe what a
3:21
different figure these two brothers made. Yesaw is attended by a guard of four
3:27
hundred men and looks big. Jacob is followed by a cumbersome train of women
3:32
and children that are his care, and he looks tender and solicitous for their
3:38
safety. And yet Jacob had the birthright, and was to have the dominion,
3:45
and was every way the better man. Note it is no disparagement to
3:51
a very great and good men to give a personal attendance to their families and
3:55
to their family affairs. Jacob, at the head of his household, set
4:00
a better example than Esau at the head of his regiment Numeral three. At
4:06
their meeting, the expressions of kindness were interchanged in the best manner that could
4:13
be between them. Number One, Jacob bowed to Esau Verse three. Though
4:18
he feared Esau as an enemy, yet he did obeisance to him as an
4:24
elder brother, knowing and remembering perhaps that when Abel was preferred in God's acceptance
4:30
before his older brother Cain. Yet God undertook for him to cain, that
4:38
he should not be wanting in the duty and respect owing by a younger brother.
4:44
Unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
4:49
Chapter four, verse seven. Note one. The way to recover peace where
4:56
it has been broken is to do our duty and or respects upon all occasions
5:02
as if it had never been broken. It is the remembering and repeating of
5:08
matters that separates friends and perpetuates the separation. Two. A humble, submissive
5:15
carriage goes a great way towards the turning away of wrath. Many preserved themselves
5:21
by humbling themselves. The bullet flies over him that stoops Number two. Esau
5:29
embraced Jacob verse four. He ran to meet him, not in passion,
5:33
but in love, and as one heartily reconciled to him, he received him
5:40
with all the endearments imaginable, embraced him, fell on his neck, and
5:45
kissed him. Some think that when Esau came out to meet Jacob, it
5:49
was with no bad design, but that he brought his four hundred men only
5:55
for state that he might pay so much the greater respect to his returning brother.
6:01
It is certain that Jacob understood the report of his messengers. Otherwise,
6:08
Chapter thirty two, Verses five and six. Jacob was a man of prudence
6:13
and fortitude, and we cannot suppose him to admit to a groundless fear to
6:18
such agree as he did this, nor that the spirit of God would stir
6:24
him up to pray such a prayer as he did for deliverance from a merely
6:29
imaginary danger. And if there was not some wonderful change wrought upon the spirit
6:34
of Esau at this time, I see not how wrestling Jacob could be said
6:41
to obtain such power with men as to denominate him a prince. Note one,
6:48
God had the hearts of all men in his hands, and he can
6:53
turned them when and how he pleases, by a secret, silent but resistless
6:58
power, Anna as sudden convert enemies into friends, as he did two souls,
7:04
one by restraining grace Verse Samuel, Chapter twenty six, Verse twenty one
7:11
and twenty five, the other by renewing grace Acts Chapter nine, Verses twenty
7:17
one and twenty two. Number two. It is not in vain to trust
7:24
in God and to call upon him in the day of trouble. Those that
7:29
do so often find the issue much better than they expected. Number three.
7:34
They both wept. Jacob wept for joy to be thus kindly received by his
7:41
brother, whom he had feared, and Esau perhaps wept for grief and shame
7:46
to think of the bad design he had conceived against his brother, which he
7:51
found himself strangely and unaccountably prevented from executing. Verse five. And he lifted
8:00
up his eyes and saw the women and the children, and said, who
8:03
are those with thee? And he said, the children which God hath graciously
8:09
given thy servant Verse six. Then the haad maidens came near, they and
8:15
their children, and they bowed themselves verse seven. And Lea, also with
8:20
her children, came near and bowed themselves. And after came Joseph near,
8:26
and Rachael, and they bowed themselves verse eight. And he said, what
8:33
meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, these
8:39
are to find grace in the sight of my Lord Verse nine. And Esau
8:43
said, I have enough, my brother, keep that thou hast unto thyself
8:50
Verse ten. And Jacob said, nay, I pray thee if now I
8:54
have found grace in thy sight, then received my present at my hand.
9:00
For therefore I have seen thy face as though I had seen the face of
9:05
God, and thou hast pleased with me. Verse eleven. Take I pray
9:11
THEE my blessing that is brought to THEE, because God hath dealt graciously with
9:16
me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he
9:20
took it. Verse twelve, and he said, let us take our journey,
9:24
and let us go, And I will go before thee. Verse thirteen,
9:31
and he said, unto him, my lord knoweth that the children are
9:35
tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me, and if
9:39
men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die. Verse fourteen.
9:46
Let my lord, I pray THEE pass over before his servant, and
9:50
I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me,
9:54
and the children be able to endure until I come unto my lord Untsir Verse
10:01
fifteen. And Esau said, let me now leave with THEE some of the
10:07
folk that are with me. And he said, what needeth it. Let
10:11
me find grace in the side of my lord. We have here the discourse
10:16
between the two brothers at their meeting, which is very free and friendly,
10:22
without the least intimation of the old quarrel. It was the best way to
10:26
say nothing of it. They converse numeral one about Jacob's retinue verse five through
10:33
seven eleven or twelve little ones, the oldest of them not fourteen years old,
10:39
followed Jacob closely. Who are these? Says Esau. Jacob had sent
10:46
him an account of the increase of his estate Chapter thirty two, verse five,
10:50
but made no mention of his children, perhaps because he would not expose
10:56
them to his rage if he should meet him as an enemy me or would
11:01
please him with the unexpected sight if he should meet him as a friend.
11:05
Esau therefore had reason to ask, who are those with thee to which common
11:11
question Jacob returns a serious answer, such as became his character. They are
11:18
the children which God hath graciously given thy servant. It had been a sufficient
11:22
answer to the question, and fit enough to be given to profane Esau if
11:30
he had only said, they are my children. But then Jacob would not
11:35
have spoken like himself, like a man whose eyes were ever towards the Lord.
11:41
Note it becomes us not only to do common actions, but to speak
11:46
of them after a godly sword. Third John six. Jacob speaks of his
11:52
children one as God's gifts. They are a heritage of the Lord Psalm,
12:00
Chapter one, twenty five, verse three, Chapter one twelve, verse nine,
12:05
Chapter one O seven, Verse forty one two. As choice gifts he
12:11
hath graciously given them, though they were many and now much his care,
12:18
and as yet but slenderly provided for. Yet he accounts them great blessings.
12:24
His wives and children hereupon come up in order and pay their duty to Esau,
12:30
as he had done before them Verses six and seven. For it becomes
12:35
the family to show respect to those to whom the master of the family shows
12:39
respect Numeral two. About the present he had sent him, number one,
12:46
Esau modestly refused it because he had enough and did not need it. Verse
12:52
nine. Note those who wish to be considered men of honor will not seem
12:58
to mean mercenary in their friendship. Whatever influence Jacob's present had upon Esau to
13:05
pacify him, he would not have it, thought that it had any,
13:11
and therefore he refused it. His reason is I have enough. I have
13:16
much. So the word is so much that he was not willing to take
13:22
anything that was his brother's. Note one, Many that come short of spiritual
13:28
blessings and are out of covenant, yet have much of this world's wealth.
13:33
Esau had what was promised him, the fatness of the earth and a livelihood
13:39
by his sword. Two. It is a good thing for those that have
13:43
much to know that they have enough, though they have not so much as
13:50
some others have. Even Esau can say I have enough. Number three.
13:56
Those that are content with what they have must show it by not coveting what
14:01
others have. Esau bids Jacob keep what he had to himself, supposing he
14:07
had more need of it. Esaw, for his part, needs it,
14:13
not either to supply him, for he is rich, or to pacify him,
14:18
for he has reconciled we should take heed, lest at any time our
14:22
covetousness impose upon the courtesy of others and meanly take advantage of their generosity.
14:31
Number two. Jacob affectionately urges him to accept it and prevails verse ten and
14:39
eleven. Jacob sent it through fear Chapter thirty two, verse twenty. But
14:46
the fear being over, he now importunes his acceptance of it for love to
14:52
show that he desired his brother's friendship and did not merely dread his wrath.
14:58
Two things he urges. One, the satisfaction he had in his brother's favor,
15:03
of which he thought himself bound to make this thankful acknowledgment. It is
15:09
a very high compliment that he passes upon him. I have seen thy face
15:15
as though I had seen the face of God. That is, I have
15:20
seen THEE reconciled to me and at peace with me, as I desire to
15:26
see God reconciled. Or the meaning is that Jacob saw God's favor to him
15:31
in Esau's It was a token for good to him that God had accepted his
15:37
prayers. Note creature comforts are comforts indeed to us when they are granted as
15:43
answers to prayer, and are tokens of our acceptance with God. Again,
15:50
it is matter of great joy to those that are of peaceable and affectionate disposition
15:56
to recover the friendship of those relations with whom they have been at variance Two,
16:04
the competency he had of this world's goods. God has dealt graciously with
16:10
me. Note, if what we have in this world increase under our hands,
16:17
we must take notice of it with thankfulness to the glory of God,
16:21
and own that therein He has dealt graciously with us better than we deserve.
16:26
It is he that gives power to get wealth. Deuteronomy, chapter eight,
16:32
verse eighteen. He adds, and I have enough, I have all.
16:38
So the word is Esau's enough was much, but Jacob's enough was all.
16:45
Note a goodly man, though he have but little in the world, yet
16:49
may truly say I have all one, because he has the God of all
16:57
and has all in him. All is yours if you be Christ's verse Corinthians
17:03
three, verse twenty two two. Because he has the comfort of all,
17:11
I have all and abound. Philammon, chapter four, verse eighteen. He
17:17
that has much would have more. But he that thinks he has all is
17:22
sure he has enough. He has all. In prospect he will have all
17:26
shortly when he comes to heaven. Upon this principle, Jacob urged Esau,
17:33
and he took his present. Note it is an excellent thing when men's religion
17:38
makes them generous, free hearted, and open handed, scorning to do a
17:45
thing that is paltry and sneaking Numeral three about the progress of their journey.
17:51
Number one. Esau offers himself to be his guide and companion in token of
17:56
sincere reconciliation verse twelve. We never find that Jacob and Esau were so sociable
18:04
with one another and so affectionate as they were now. Note as for God,
18:11
his work is perfect. He made Esau not only an enemy, but
18:18
a friend. This bone that had been broken, being well set, became
18:23
stronger than ever. Esau has become fond of Jacob's company, courts him to
18:29
mount Seer. Let us never despair of any nor distrust God in whose hand
18:36
all hearts are. Yet Jacob saw caused modestly to refuse his offer verse thirteen
18:42
and fourteen, wherein he shows a tender concern for his own family and flocks.
18:49
Like a good shepherd and a good father. He must consider the children
18:53
and the flocks with young, and not lead the one nor drive the other.
18:59
To fans asked, this prudence and tenderness of Jacob ought to be imitated
19:04
by those that have the care in charge of young people in the things of
19:08
God. They must not be overdriven at first by heavy tasks in religious services,
19:17
but led as they can there, having their work made as easy to
19:21
them as possible. Christ the good shepherd does so Isaiah, Chapter forty,
19:26
verse eleven. Now Jacob will not desire Esau to slacken his pace, nor
19:33
force his family to quicken theirs, nor leave them to keep company with his
19:37
brother, as many would have done that love any society better than their own
19:44
house. But he desires Esau the march before, and promises to follow him
19:48
leisurely as he could get forward. Note it is an unreasonable thing to tie
19:56
others to our rate. We may with comfort at last to the same journey's
20:03
end, though we do not journey together, either in the same path or
20:07
with the same pace. There may be those with whom we cannot fall in,
20:12
and yet with whom we need not fall out. By the way,
20:18
Jacob intimates to him that it was his present design to come to him to
20:23
Mount Seer, and we may presume he did so after he had settled his
20:29
family and concerns elsewhere, though that visit is not recorded. Note when we
20:37
have happily recovered peace with our friends, we must take care to cultivate it,
20:41
and not to be behighhand with them in civilities. Number two, Esau
20:48
offers some of his men to be his guard and convoy Verse fifteen, He
20:55
saw Jacob but poorly attended, no servants but his husbandmen and shepherds, no
21:00
pages or footmen, And therefore, thinking he was as desirous as himself.
21:07
If he could afford it to take state upon him and look great, he
21:11
would needs lend him some of his retinue to attend upon him, that he
21:17
might appear like Esau's brother. But Jacob humbly refuses his offer, only desiring
21:22
he would not take it amiss that he did not accept it. What needeth
21:27
it? One? Jacob is humble and needs it not for state. He
21:33
desires not to make a fair show in the flesh by encumbering himself with a
21:38
needless retinue. Note it is the vanity of pomp and grandeur that they are
21:45
tended with a great deal, of which may be said, what needeth it?
21:51
Two? Jacob is under the divine protection and needs it not for safety.
21:56
Note those are so efficiently guarded that have God for their guard, and
22:03
under a convoy of his hosts, as Jacob was. Those need not beholden
22:10
to an arm of flesh, that have God for their arm. Every morning,
22:15
Jacob adds, only let me find grace in the side of my Lord.
22:19
Having thy favor, I have all I need, all I desire from
22:25
thee. If Jacob thus valued the good will of a brother, much more
22:30
reason have we to reckon that we have enough if we have the good will
22:36
of our God verse sixteen. So Esau returned that day on his way unto
22:41
Sierr verse seventeen. And Jacob journeyed to Suckoth and built him a house and
22:48
made booths for his cattle. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
22:53
Verse eighteen. And Jacob came to Shalem, a city Offseach, which
23:00
is in the land of Canaan, when he came from padan Aram and pitched
23:06
his tent before the city verse nineteen. And he bought a parcel of field
23:11
where he had spread his tent at the hand of the children of Hamor Siechim's
23:18
father, for a hundred pieces of money verse twenty. And he erected there
23:23
an altar and called it l Elohe Israel. Here number one, Jacob comes
23:32
to Sukov, having in a friendly manner parted with Esov, who had gone
23:37
to his own country. Verse sixteen. He comes to a place where it
23:42
should seem he rested for some time, set up booths for his cattle,
23:48
and other conveniences for himself and family. The place was afterwards known by the
23:55
name of Sukoth, a city in the tribe of Gad on the other side
24:00
Jordan. It signifies Booths that when his posterity afterwards dwell in houses of stone,
24:07
they might remember that the Syrian ready to perish was their father, who
24:12
was glad of Booths. Deuteronomy, Chapter twenty six, Verse five. Such
24:19
was the rock whence they were hewn. Number two, he comes to siech
24:25
him. We read it to Shalem, a city of Siechim. The critics
24:30
generally inclined to read it apellatively. He came safely or in peace, to
24:37
the city of Sichim, after a perilous journey in which he had met with
24:42
many difficulties. He came safely at last into Canaan. Note. Diseases and
24:49
dangers should teach us how to value health and safety, and should help to
24:55
enlarge our hearts in thankfulness when our going out and coming in have been signally
25:02
preserved. Here one he buys a field verse nineteen. Though the land of
25:07
Canaan was his by promise, yet the time for taking possession not having yet
25:14
come. He is content to pay for his own to prevent disputes with the
25:19
present occupants. Note dominion is not founded in grace. Those that have heaven
25:26
for free cost must not expect to have earth. So two, he builds
25:33
an altar Verse twenty one, in thankfulness to God for the good hand of
25:38
his providence over him. He did not content himself with verbal acknowledgments of God's
25:45
favor to him, but made real ones two that he might keep up religion
25:52
and the worship of God and his family. Note. Where we have a
25:56
tent, God must have an altar. Where we have a house, he
26:02
must have a church in it. He dedicated this altar to the honor of
26:07
El Elahi Israel God, the God of Israel. To the honor of God
26:14
in general, the only living and true God, the best of beings and
26:18
first of causes, And to the honor of the God of Israel as a
26:23
God in covenant with him. Note in our worship of God, we must
26:29
be guided and governed by the joint discoveries, both of natural and revealed religion.
26:36
God had lately called him by the name of Israel. Now he calls
26:41
God the God of Israel. Though he is styled a prince with God,
26:47
God shall still be a prince with him, his Lord and his God.
26:52
Note Our honors then become honors, indeed to us, when they are consecrated
26:57
to God's honor. Israel's God is Israel's glory. End of Chapter thirty three.