Jacob very much feared Esau. He had deceived his father, Isaac and had take Esau’s blessing. The Bible says, “And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob. And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, as touching thee, doth comfort himself, purposing to kill thee. Now therefore, my son, obey my voice; and arise, flee thou to Laban my brother to Haran; And tarry with him a few days, until thy brother's fury turn away; Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget that which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be deprived also of you both in one day?” (Genesis 27:41-45) When Jacob met Esau he bowed before him seven times. Jacob was still afraid that Esau would kill him. Instead Esau ran to meet him and embraced him. After 20 years away from each other these brethren wept for joy as they were reunited. Jacob returned home with 4 wives and 12 children, the oldest of which was under 13 years. Jacob said these were “children which God hath graciously given” him. Jacob was joyful that he and Esau were reconciled to one another. He was thrilled and said to Esau, “I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.” Esau offered to guide Jacob or to leave some men to help him along the way but Jacob quickly refused the offer. He might have still been dealing with fear. Better yet, he finally had come to realize that he was under Divine direction and guidance. He said that he needed to move slowly because of the children and the flocks. When it comes to children and flocks you lead children and drive the flocks. Jacob addressed Esau as Lord and said that all he needed was to find grace in his sight. In the twenty years Jacob was gone God changed Esau’s heart and instead of being Jacob’s enemy he was truly his friend. Upon some urging Esau accepted the gifts that Jacob offered to him. After Esau took his journey, “Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.” God kept His promise and brought Jacob safely to Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan. He pitched his tent near the city. Jacob bought a field, where he had spread his tent, from the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for a hundred pieces of money. In thanksgiving to God for His providence Jacob erected an altar there, He called it Elelohe-Israel. The altar was dedicated to “God, the God of Israel.” Jacob left Canaan as a wicked deceiver and he returned as a prince of God.

          Jacob met Esau after twenty years -- Genesis 33:1-4: After 20 years these two brothers met again for the first time. Possibly the principles of Proverbs 16:7 applys here. “When a man's ways please the LORD, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.” Many changes have taken place during those years. One major change is that this is no longer Esau and Jacob. This is now Esau and Israel. God said to Jacob, “Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.” (Genesis 32:28) Jacob or Israel became much more bold in the Lord. “Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.” (Psalms 27:3) The character and the conduct of both Esau and Israel had changed. Esau came to meet Israel with 400 men. There is nothing in the text that indicates that Esau had any evil intentions in the matter. He seemed to come in peace to assist his brother. What an amazing difference we see in Esau and Jacob. Esau looked strong as he came with 400 men. Jacob looked weak as he came with women, small children and cattle. But let us not forget that Jacob is Israel, the prince of God. Whatever Esau’s motives were in coming, Jacob arranged his family in an order that made sense. He put his favorite wife and son at the back. Jacob had the children walk with their mother. He put Bilhah and Zilpah and their children first, then Leah and her children, and finally Rachel and Joseph. Jacob is now where a man should be. He himself walked in front of his family. When he met Esau he bowed to the ground seven times. He was showing respect to his older brother. Esau ran to Jacob and hugged and kissed him. Then they both started crying.

          The children that God hath graciously given thy servant --Genesis 33:5-11: When Esau met Jacob he was quick to notice all the women and children. He inquired as to who they were. Jacob told him, “These are children the Lord has been kind enough to give to me, your servant.” Everyone seemed to want to show respect to Esau. Bilhah and Zilpah and their children came and bowed down to Esau. Leah and her children came and bowed down; finally, Joseph and Rachel also came and bowed down to Esau. Esau not only asked about the children but about the droves of animals that he had met. Jacob had sent, “Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams, Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals. And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove. And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee? Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob's; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us. (Genesis 32:14-18) Jacob’s desire was that these gifts would make Esau friendly with him. He told Esau, “These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.” Jacob said, “Please accept these gifts I brought to you. God has been good to me, and I have everything I need.” Jacob kept insisting until Esau accepted the gifts.” Esau made a great statement when he said, “I have enough.” Let us learn to be content and never covet what others have.

          Let us take our journey -- Genesis 33:12-17: Esau told Jacob that it was time for them to travel. Esau offered to go along with Jacob and to lead the way for him. Jacob refused his offer. He took responsibility to protect his children and his cattle. He also took the responsibility to follow God’s leadership. Men today need to take responsibility for their families and lead and protect them in the right ways. Jacob promised Esau that he would meet him in Seir. Esau observed that Jacob did not have much help or protection so he offered to leave some of the 400 men with him. They would help him, protect him and guide him along the way. Jacob also refused this offer. In all of the conversations between Esau and Jacob, there is seen much humility on the part of Jacob. He felt happy and very blessed that Esau was happy with him. Jacob was under Divine protection so he did not need Esau for protection. Instead, he needed Esau’s love and friendship! We also need the protection of God and His good-will in our lives. After they departed from one another Esau went to Edom. Jacob went to Succoth. There he built a place for his family and booths for his animals.

          Jacob arrived in the land of Canaan -- Genesis 33:18-20: In Genesis 31:3 we read a great promise that God made to Jacob. “And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.” (Genesis 31:3) In these simple words we are again reminded that God keeps his promises, “And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city.” (Genesis 33:18) This was a long and difficult journey for Jacob and his family. They faced many dangers but God preserved them and brought them safely to Canaan. Jacob had a heart filled with thanksgiving for what God had done for Him. Let us also learn to be thankful. “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.” (Colossians 3:15) In the land of Canaan Jacob camped on some land owned by the descendants of Hamor, the father of Shechem. The land of Canaan was his by promise, yet, the time for taking possession of the land had not come. He was happy to pay for a little plot of land. So Jacob paid them one hundred pieces of silver for the property.  H then pitched his tents and built an altar there to honor the God of Israel. He called the altar Elelohe-Israel. He built this altar because, (1) He was thankful to God for His providence and care for him, (2) He wanted to lead his family in worship to the one true God. He, like Abraham, believed that where he had a tent God must have an altar. He dedicated his altar to Elelohe-Israel (God, the God of Israel.) This altar was built to honor the only true and living God. Our lives must be an honor to this same God.

          God will put strength into the heart of the person who trusts in Him. No act of courage or obedience is impossible to a man with faith in God. The believer, when he is brought into peace with God, does not tremble, at the thought of doing God’s service and trusting God’s promises. To become a Christian hear the word of God (Romans 10:17), believe in Jesus (John 8:24), repent of sins (Acts 17:30-31), confess Jesus as Lord (Romans 10:9-10) and be baptized into Christ. (Galatians 3:26-27) Let us be righteous and live for the Savior and with the Savior.