Today’s Bulletin
OUTLINE
Genesis 33
33 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.
Brothers Gotta hug: genesis 33
Ice Breaker: Esau said, “I have enough” what is something you have way too many of?
Weekly Questions
Facing Our Fears
In verses 1-3, Jacob finally faces Esau after 20 years, despite his anxiety and fear. Think about a relationship or situation you've been avoiding out of fear or anxiety.
What specifically are you afraid might happen if you address this situation?
How might your assumptions about the other person's response be preventing reconciliation?
Read Philippians 4:6-7. How might prayer help you face this fear as Jacob did in Genesis 32:11?
Forgiveness Without Rehashing
The sermon points out that Jacob and Esau reconciled without digging up the past and rehashing old arguments.
Why is it so tempting to bring up past hurts when we're trying to resolve conflicts?
Read Ephesians 4:31-32. How does this passage instruct us to deal with past hurts?
What practical ways might help us avoid the "rehashing trap" when working through conflict?
Why is it so hard to be the mercy-giver when we are the ones wronged? What are some ways we can learn to do that?
New Names and Identity
God gave Jacob a new name (Israel) that reflected his transformed identity. How has your identity changed since coming to faith in Christ? Where do you still struggle to live in your old identity? (Consider 2 Corinthians 5:17: "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.")
Do you ahve a good story of how God made himself your God? Do you ever struggle with this? Discuss.
Peace With Boundaries
Jacob and Esau reconcile, but then part ways.
Does reconciliation always mean returning to the same relationship as before?
Have you ever felt guilty about needing distance after reconciliation?
What does this passage teach us about peace and boundaries?
Are there relationships in your life where you need to establish boundaries even after reconciliation?
How can you do this with grace?
Generous Response to Grace
After experiencing God's grace, Jacob insisted on giving Esau gifts.
Similarly, Zacchaeus responded to Jesus by restoring what he had taken.
How has God's grace made you more generous?
Where do you need to say “I have enough” and be generous? What other Scriptures speak to generosity as an encouragement in this?
Closing Questions
What’s one area you feel the Lord wants to grow you into more Christ likeness?
How can this group pray for you this week?