Posted by: Robert .. Mitchell
Institution: None
Date posted: Fri Oct 31 8:31:34 1997
Message:
.... There could be no doubt that ... Jacob was ENTITLED to
the BLESSING. ... ... ... BEFORE the birth of the twins ,
... GOD had said to Rebekah : ... "The older will serve the
younger". ... (Gen. 25:23) ... ... ... Later , in harmony
with the .. INCLINATION .. that GOD had already foreseen ...
and that had caused him to love Jacob more then he did Esau
, Easu .. SOLD .. his birthright to Jacob for just a bowl
of stew. ... (Gen. 25:29-34). ... ... The .. LESSON .. a
warning that we should be careful ... and not like Esau ...
fail at .. "APPRECIATING SACRED THINGS , like Esau , who in
exchange for one meal gave away his rights as firstborn".
... (Heb. 12:16). ... ... ... Later after the amiable meeting
between Jacob and Esau , these twins , now about 97 years
old , each went his separate way , till some 23 years later
in the joint burial of their father. ...
(Gen. 33:1-17 .;. 35:29)
... ... ... ... ... ... ... As to ... RECONCILIATION ...
God purposed to ... "gather all things together again in
the Christ , ... the things in the HEAVENS ... and the
things on the EARTH". ... (Eph. 1:10). ... ... ... Though a
destruction of those who refuse to ... "set matters
straight" ... (Isa. 1:18) ... with God is requird , ... the
result will be a UNIVERSE in total harmony with God , ...
and mankind will again rejoice in God's frendship and enjoy
the full flow of his blessings as at the start in Eden. ...
(Rev. 21:1-4). ...
Posted by: Stephen Goar (sdgoar@acscs.net)
Institution: Anderson Community Schools
Date posted: Wed Jan 15 13:45:27 1997
Message:
Hello David,
Your response to the reconciliation of Yaakov and Esav was interesting, but somewhat limited. Often readers of literature and poetry assign meaning and interpretation to works which are unsanctioned, incorrect, and often unintended by the author. I have done this numerous times, as a teacher of literature, with a variety of works which have had application specifically to a certain area of my life, and mine alone. I think assigning your representation to the story limits it considerably. The reconciliation is meant to be taken literally, as the stroy of one brother's humbling return, and another's unexpected forgivness.
Remember, Jacob leaves his mother as an arrogant trickster who decives his dying father to attain that which is not rightfully his. To escape Esau's vengence, he flees his native land and his father's gravesite, never to see his beloved mother again. Arriving in the land of Mesopotamia, he becomes bondservant for nearly 20 years. Yaakov returns a different man, humbled, truly apologetic, begging Esau for his forgiveness. Jacob prostrates himself before his brother, a burdened man, and a completely different Easau greets him. By all local customs and rights, Esau can kill him for the wrong done to him. Instead, he forgives him, tries to give back his gifts, weeps on his shoulder, and welcomes him into his land. Although Esau has been reviled throughout the ages as an evil person, he must be seen as a good, righteous individual. This story must bee seen in this light, as an example of loving a brother as yourself.
Shalom,
Steve Goar
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Reconcilliation
Posted by: David W. Adkins (cirider@onr.com)
Institution: First United Methodist Church - Round Rock
Date posted: Sun Jan 5 22:57:36 1997
Message:
Jacob and Esau represent two parts(the twins) of the same representation of humanity.
The reconciliation then represents the "coming together" of those two parts to move all
humanity closer to the "wholeness" of the original creation.
Rather than two seperate individuals, Jacob and Esau are two parts of the same whole.
Reconciliation is not to be found here just between two people, two brothers, but represents
the creation of God being moved to perfection.
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Wrestling
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