# 310 Complete (7) Humility

The Book of Genesis

Day 310

Ge 33:1 Now Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and there, Esau was coming, and with him were four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants.  2 And he put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children behind, and Rachel and Joseph last.  3 Then he crossed over before them and bowed 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.

Here comes Esau! The moment of truth has arrived and Jacob is still not sure how he is going to be received, but it doesn’t look good as Esau has 400 men with him! So out of prudence and I’m sure a little bit of fear, he divides his children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants. 

If we’re not careful, we can miss something here in verse 2. Who is the only child mentioned by name here? It is Joseph, and where is he placed? In the rear, the safest place to be in case there is trouble. This mention of Joseph’s name here should tell us of this child’s favored status in the eyes of Jacob….something that will create great problems with his siblings later on!

Having taken care of that business, he now approaches his brother bowing not once, but 7 times to the ground! When you see that number 7 in Scripture, pay attention, it represents the complete dealings of God with men. (3 the number of God, 4 the number of earth, 3+4 = 7) and consequently, it is often associated with any kind of completeness.

The idea of it’s usage here is that Jacob is approaching Esau in complete humility! It’s like he was saying to Esau, “I am completely sorry for my past wrongs against you, will you completely forgive me?”

Look at Esau’s reaction to this display of humility. Something has happened to his heart since he left camp with 400 men and vengeance on his mind. Instead of rushing at his brother with the sword he alone rushes to his brother with open arms and tears in his eyes as they joyfully reconcile!

How can this be? Who did this work in Esau’s heart? It had to be God! Notice the steps that had to be taken. First of all, Jacob’s heart had to be changed, and that was the real reason for the wrestling match of the previous evening. Jacob was humbled, and that humility carried over into his meeting with Esau.  Oh, beloved, it is so true! God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble!

Is there some reconciliation needed in your life? You may not think so, or you may think it’s impossible, but God knows differently. He is all about reconciliation!  Imitate Jacob! Approach God with complete humility, then approach men with that same kind of humility and watch God’s grace overpower both of you!