Old Testament - Genesis 33 - March 5, 2022

3/5/2022 – Genesis 33

President Thomas M Monson told the following story: “Many years ago I read the following Associated Press dispatch which appeared in the newspaper: An elderly man disclosed at the funeral of his brother, with whom he had shared, from early manhood, a small, one-room cabin near Canisteo, New York, that following a quarrel, they had divided the room in half with a chalk line, and neither had crossed the line or spoken a word to the other since that day—62 years before. Just think of the consequence of that anger. What a tragedy!” (“School Thy Feelings, O My Brother,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2009, 68–69)

Esau and Jacob DID have serious quarrels (Esau had threatened to kill Jacob in those earlier times), but after 20 years, are ready to put all their earlier problems behind them. Esau still does not have the birthright he thought he would receive by being the first son, and Jacob had been forced to leave his home and family for 20 years, and the situation with Laban during those 20 years was quite unfair. 

At first meeting, both men spoke to each other with kindness and acceptance, and then Jacob settled in, knowing that both brothers were okay with one another. Although Jacob did settle slightly away from Esau. I would assume that Jacob went a bit away from because he needed grazing lands for all of his animals and Esau visited Jacob.  

Emily Bell Freeman puts it this way: “The story that began with fighting in the womb, scarcity, deceit, selfishness, and greed ended with two brothers reconciled and willing to care to for one another tenderly and softly. It is a beautiful story of giving grace.”

Marion D Hanks spoke of reasons why we need to overcome hatred or resentment when we feel others have wronged us: “What is our response when we are offended, misunderstood, unfairly or unkindly treated, or sinned against, made an offender for a word, falsely accused, passed over, hurt by those we love, our offerings rejected? Do we resent, become bitter, hold a grudge? Or do we resolve the problem if we can, forgive, and rid ourselves of the burden? “The nature of our response to such situations may well determine the nature and quality of our lives, here and eternally. . . .Even if it appears that another may be deserving of our resentment or hatred, none of us can afford to pay the price of resenting or hating, because of what it does to us” (Forgiveness, The Ultimate Form of Love,” Ensign, Jan 1974, 20-21)

And the Lord says to us “Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another.… the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men. And ye ought to say in your hearts—let God judge … and reward thee according to thy deeds.” (D&C 64:9-11)

V 20: Jacob was welcomed by Esau as soon as he had arrived. They both shared their current good feelings toward one another. In the new town where Jacob wanted to place down roots, he purchased land and set up his tents, “and he erected there an alter” (v 20)  This action was the confirmation of the promise that Jacob had made in Genesis 28:20-21: “And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the Lord be my God….”  By dedicating this alter, Jacob was confirming his promise that if God would help him return home in peace, then the Lord would be his God. We don’t build alters in fields these days, but we can certainly get down on our knees and speak to our Heavenly Father---about His love, His help, and the plans we have made to follow Him!