12 Then Esau said, “Let us be on our way; I’ll accompany you.” Genesis 33
We said yesterday that even though Jacob was very grateful that Esau had received him back as a brother, Jacob didn’t travel with Esau. In fact Genesis 36:6, 7 tells that the two brothers lived far apart because both had such large flocks, like Abram and Lot. God has His ways of separating us from people we shouldn’t be with, even through His blessings.
16 So that day Esau started on his way back to Seir. 17 Jacob, however, WENT TO SUKKOTH, WHERE HE BUILT A PLACE FOR HIMSELF AND MADE SHELTERS FOR HIS LIVESTOCK. That is why the place is called Sukkoth. Genesis 33
As soon as Esau and Jacob reconciled they separated again. They may not have been suited to be together longer term and that may be the case for some of us. No matter how much we may try to build a relationship, if God’s not in it, it won’t work!
18 After Jacob came from Paddan Aram, HE ARRIVED SAFELY AT THE CITY OF SHECHEM IN CANAAN and camped within sight of the city. 19 For a hundred pieces of silver, he bought from the sons of Hamor, the father of Shechem, the plot of ground where he pitched his tent. 20 THERE HE SET UP AN ALTAR AND CALLED IT EL ELOHE ISRAEL.
Jacob didn’t need Esau’s men to protect him. He’d already travelled a long way from his uncle Laban and God had kept him all the way. (REMEMBER HOW FAR GOD HAS BROUGHT YOU UNTIL TODAY!) We’re never safer than when we’re travelling under God’s care, BE CAREFUL BEFORE ACCEPTING OFFERS FROM MEN IN PLACE OF THE LORD.
Jacob stopped at two places on his journey. The first was Sukkoth, where he put up shelters for himself and his livestock. He took care of the needs of his people and his animals there, the normal duties of life.
The next place was Shechem, (in Canaan), where he camped outside the city and bought some land, to set up his camp. The last words of Genesis 33 tell us that Jacob set up an altar, place of worship, to God there. Jacob had to deal with the affairs of life, just as we all do, but God was in his life. In Genesis 35 God told Jacob to go and live in Bethel and build an altar there, but in Shechem he appeared to build the altar himself.
Esau and Jacob represent two different types of men in the Bible. Esau is a type of the ‘Carnal man’, no thought for God in his life, taken up with the affairs of daily life. No thanks for all the provision of God in many areas, even despising his own parents by marrying Canaanite women. Genesis 28:8, 9 Jacob represents the ‘Spiritual man’, God has been guiding the course of his life all along. He recognised and worshipped the God of his fathers.
We must have an altar, functional place of worship, in our lives in these days. The natural man cannot cope with life on his own, without the influence of heaven.
Immanuel, God is with us today.