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Genesis Chapter Thirty-three

Genesis 33

Chapter Contents

The friendly meeting of Jacob and Esau. (1-16) Jacob comes to Succoth and Shalem He builds an altar. (17-20)

Commentary on Genesis 33:1-16

Jacob having by prayer committed his case to God went on his way. Come what will nothing can come amiss to him whose heart is fixed trusting in God. Jacob bowed to Esau. A humble submissive behaviour goes far towards turning away wrath. Esau embraced Jacob. God has the hearts of all men in his hands and can turn them when and how he pleases. It is not in vain to trust in God and to call upon him in the day of trouble. And when a man's ways please the Lord he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him. Esau receives Jacob as a brother and much tenderness passes between them. Esau asks Who are those with thee? To this common question Jacob spoke like himself like a man whose eyes are ever directed towards the Lord. Jacob urged Esau though his fear was over and he took his present. It is well when men's religion makes them generous free-hearted and open-handed. But Jacob declined Esau's offer to accompany him. It is not desirable to be too intimate with superior ungodly relations who will expect us to join in their vanities or at least to wink at them though they blame and perhaps mock at our religion. Such will either be a snare to us or offended with us. We shall venture the loss of all things rather than endanger our souls if we know their value; rather than renounce Christ if we truly love him. And let Jacob's care and tender attention to his family and flocks remind us of the good Shepherd of our souls who gathers the lambs with his arm and carries them in his bosom and gently leads those that are with young Isaiah 40:11. As parents teachers or pastors we should all follow his example.

Commentary on Genesis 33:17-20

Jacob did not content himself with words of thanks for God's favour to him but gave real thanks. Also he kept up religion and the worship of God in his family. Where we have a tent God must have an altar. Jacob dedicated this altar to the honour of El-elohe-Israel God the God of Israel; to the honour of God the only living and true God; and to the honour of the God of Israel as a God in covenant with him. Israel's God is Israel's glory. Blessed be his name he is still the mighty God the God of Israel. May we praise his name and rejoice in his love through our pilgrimage here on earth and for ever in the heavenly Canaan.

── Matthew Henry《Concise Commentary on Genesis》

Genesis 33

Verse 3

[3] And he passed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times until he came near to his brother.

He bowed — Though he feared Esau as an enemy yet he did obeisance to him as an elder brother.

Verse 4

[4] And Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him: and they wept.

And Esau ran to meet him — Not in passion but in love.

Embraced him fell on his neck and kissed him — God hath the hearts of all men in his hands and can turn them when and how he pleases. He can of a sudden convert enemies into friends as he did two Sauls one by restraining grace 1 Samuel 26:21 25 the other by renewing grace Acts 9:21.

And they wept — Jacob wept for joy to be thus kindly received; Esau perhaps wept for grief and shame to think of the ill design he had conceived against his brother.

Verse 5

[5] And he lifted up his eyes and saw the women and the children; and said Who are those with thee? And he said The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.

Eleven or twelve little ones followed Jacob the eldest of them not fourteen years old: Who are these? saith Esau. Jacob had sent him an account of the increase of his estate but made no mention of his children perhaps because he would not expose them to his rage if he should meet him as an enemy. Esau therefore had reason to ask who are those with thee? To which Jacob returns a serious answer; they are the children which God hath graciously given thy servant. Jacob speaks of his children 1. As God's gifts; they are a heritage of the Lord. 2. As choice gifts; he hath graciously given them. Though they were many and but slenderly provided for yet he accounts them great blessings.

Verse 10

[10] And Jacob said Nay I pray thee if now I have found grace in thy sight then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face as though I had seen the face of God and thou wast pleased with me.

I have seen thy face as though I had seen the face of God — That is I have seen thee reconciled to me and at peace with me as I desire to see God reconciled.

Verse 12

[12] And he said Let us take our journey and let us go and I will go before thee.

Esau offers himself to be his guide and companion in token of sincere reconciliation. We never find that Jacob and Esau were so loving with one another as they were now. God made Esau not only not an enemy but a friend. Esau is become fond of Jacob's company courts him to mount Seir: let us never despair of any nor distrust God in whose hands all hearts are. Yet Jacob saw cause modestly to refute this offer wherein he shews a tender concern for his own family and flocks like a good shepherd and a good father. He must consider the children and the flocks with young and not lead the one or drive the other too fast. Jacob intimates to him that it was his design to come to him to mount Seir; and we may presume he did so after he had settled his concerns elsewhere though that visit be not recorded.

Verse 15

[15] And Esau said Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord.

Esau offers some of his men to be his guard and convoy; but Jacob humbly refuseth his offer only desiring he would not take it amiss that he did not accept it. What needs it? He is under the Divine protection. Those are sufficiently guarded that have God for their guard and are under a convoy of his hosts as Jacob was. Jacob adds only let me find grace in the sight of my lord - Having thy favour I have all I need all I desire from thee.

Verse 16

[16] So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.

And Jacob journeyed to Succoth — Having in a friendly manner parted with Esau who was gone to his own country he comes to a place where he rested set up booths for his cattle and other conveniences for himself and family. The place was afterwards known by the name of Succoth a city in the tribe of Gad on the other side Jordan; it signifies booths: that when his posterity afterwards dwelt in houses of stone they might remember that the Syrian ready to perish was their father who was glad of booths Deuteronomy 26:5.

Verse 18

[18] And Jacob came to Shalem a city of Shechem which is in the land of Canaan when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city.

And Jacob came to Shalem a city of Shechem — Or rather he came safe or in peace to the city of Shechem. After a perilous journey in which he had met with many difficulties he came safe at last into Canaan.

Verse 20

[20] And he erected there an altar and called it Elelohe-Israel.

He erected an altar — 1. In thankfulness to God for the good hand of his providence over him. 2. That he might keep up religion and the worship of God in his family. He dedicated this altar to the honour of El-elohe-israel God-the God of Israel: to the honour of God in general the only living and true God the Best of beings the First of causes: and to the honour of the God of Israel as a God in covenant with him. God had lately called him by the name of Israel; and now he calls God the God of Israel; though he be called a prince with God God shall still be a prince with him his Lord and his God.

── John Wesley《Explanatory Notes on Genesis》

33 Chapter 33

Verses 1-16

Genesis 33:1-16

And Esau ran to meet him and embraced him

The reconciliation of Jacob and Esau

I.
IT ILLUSTRATES THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CHARACTERS OF THE TWO BROTHERS.

1. Esau was generous and forgiving.

2. In Jacob there are traces of his old subtlety.

II. IT ILLUSTRATES THE POWER OF HUMAN FORGIVENESS.

III. IT ILLUSTRATES THE TYRANNY OF OLD SINS. All was forgiven but there was no longer any confidence. So the effects of past sin remain.

IV. IT ILLUSTRATES THE POWER OF GODLINESS. Jacob’s humility before his brother was but a sign of his humility before God. His satisfaction to Esau is a sign also of his reconciliation with God. (T. H. Leale.)

The brothers reconciled

I. A RECONCILIATION AFTER A LONG SEPARATION

II. A MOST DESIRABLE RECONCILIATION.

1. Because of the happiness of their aged parents.

2. On account of their own families.

3. On account of their own spiritual well-being.

III. A RECONCILIATION WHICH BROUGHT TO SIGHT THE BEST TRAITS OF THEIR CHARACTER.

1. Prayerfulness.

2. Humility.

3. Disinterestedness. (Homilist.)

Forgiveness of injuries

1. The most obvious motive to forgive is the pleasure of forgiving and the pain of resenting. Therefore as the apostle says Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand we may say Forgive for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. Forgive while forgiveness is worth having; forgive while there remains enough of life for the renewal of kindness; forgive while you have something else to bestow on repentance than lingering looks and faltering words. And what does this solemn Christian injunction of forgiving do but eradicate from the mind the most painful and most unquiet of all passions? What wretchedness to clamour out for ever “I will pursue I will overtake; my right hand shall dash in pieces mine enemy”; to sacrifice all the quiet happiness of life to sicken on the bosom of joy still after the lapse of years to feel to see and to suffer with the freshness of yesterday; and in the midst of blessings to exclaim All this availeth me nothing while Mordecai the Jew sitteth at the king’s gate.

2. Are we sure too that the cause of our resentment is just? Have we collected the most ample evidence? Have we examined it with the closest attention? Have we subjected it to impartial revision? Have we suspected our passions? Have we questioned our self-love?

3. Men are so far generally from being ashamed of not forgiving injuries that they often glory in revenge; they believe it to be united with courage and with watchful dignified pride. Yet after all what talents or what virtue can an unforgiving disposition possibly imply? Who is most likely longest to retain the sense of injured dignity? He who has given no pledge to his fellow-creatures that he is good and amiable? who does not feel that he is invulnerable? who is least fortified by a long tenor of just intentions and wise actions? What man who had ever trodden one step in the paths of religion would vex the sunshine of his existence with all the inquietudes of resentment? would ingraft upon his life the labour of hating and hovel year after year over expiring injuries? Who is there that bears about him a heart of flesh that would put away a brother or a friend who knelt to him for mercy?

4. Other men who have no desire to be thought magnanimous because they revenge are still apprehensive of being considered as timid if they forgive and resent to maintain a character for spirit; but it is certainly extremely possible to combine temperate resistance to present injustice with a tendency to forgive what is past; to be firm in the maintenance of just rights while we abstain from any greater injury to our enemies than is necessary to maintain them and hold ourselves ready for forgiveness when they are maintained. (Sydney Smith M. A.)

Needless fears

Now think brethren what a revulsion of feeling there would be in Jacob’s heart. He would think “Have I been all these years vexing myself for this!” Here was the thing so happy and pleasant and kindly when it came that had many a time broken his night’s rest at Haran just to think of it; that had been a dull gnawing at his heart making him uneasy and restless in cheerful company; that had been the drop of gall in every cup he tasted--all these years! And one thing we may be almost sure of: that in all his picturing out of this dreaded meeting thinking of it as coming in twenty sad ways if there was one thing he never pictured out it would be just the meeting as it actually came! The thing you expect is in this world the last thing that is likely to befall you.

1. How needless are our fears! In how many cases we conjure up things to vex and alarm us! For one-and-twenty years Jacob had kept himself unhappy through the fear of a meeting which when it came proved one of the happiest things that ever befell him in all his life. Now have not you many a time looked forward with great anxiety to something that was coming and then when it came found that all your anxiety had been perfectly needless? We all have it in our power to make ourselves miserable if we look far into the years before us and calculate their probabilities of evil and steadily anticipate the worst. It is not expedient to calculate too far ahead. Oh that we had all more faith Christian friends in God’s sure promise made to every true Christian that as the day so shall the strength be! We have all known the anticipated ills of life--the danger that looked so big the duty that looked so arduous the entanglement that we could not see our way through prove to have been nothing more than spectres on the horizon; and when at length we reached them all their difficulty had vanished into air leaving us to think how foolish we had been for having so needlessly set up phantoms to disturb our quiet. I remember well how a good and able man who died not long ago told me many times of his fears as to what he would do in a certain contingency which both he and I thought was quite sure to come sooner or later. I know that the anticipation of it cost him some of the most anxious hours of a very anxious though useful life. But his fears proved just as vain as Jacob’s in the prospect of meeting Esau. He was taken from this world before what he dreaded had cast its most distant shadow. God in His own way delivered that man from the event he had feared. Some people are of an anxious despondent temperament ready rather to anticipate evil than to look for good. But all of us brethren need more faith in God. How comprehensive a prayer that is asking so much for time and for eternity “Lord increase our faith!” We bear a far heavier burden than we need bear. If we had the faith which we ought to have and which the Holy Spirit is ready to work in us we should cast all our care on God who careth for us.

2. In those seasons of anxiety and foreboding which through our weak faith and our remaining sinfulness will come to us all we should remember what Jacob did and where Jacob found relief. He turned to God in prayer. He went and told God all his fear and asked deliverance from God. And not once but many times; through a long night of terrible alarm and apprehension he wrestled in urgent prayer. And see what he got by it. He got relief of heart certainly: of that we are sure. Perhaps he got more. We cannot say how far those prayers went to turn Esau’s heart and to make him meet Jacob in that kindly spirit. When we are overwhelmed fearful perplexed anxious let us go to God and humbly and earnestly tell Him all we are thinking and fearing and ask Him to deliver us and comfort us. “Call upon Me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee and thou shalt glorify Me.” If ever there were words confirmed by the experience of Christian people you have them here. Perhaps our prayer may cause the trouble we bear or we dread to go away. Perhaps the stroke that seemed sure to fall may be withheld; perhaps the hope that seemed sure to be blighted may be fulfilled after all: perhaps the blessing that seemed sure to be taken away from us may be spared us yet. Perhaps through our prayer it may be with us as it was with Jacob: when we come up to the time the trial the duty we feared we may find that there is nothing about it to be afraid of. But our prayer may be answered in a way that is better and happier still. It may please God to allow all that we feared to befall us. It may please Him to disappoint the hope to frustrate the work to continue the long disease to bring the beloved one down to the grave; but with all that to resign our heart to make us humble and content to sanctify the trial to work in us a patience a faith a humility a charity a sympathy that are worth a thousand times over all worldly happiness and success. Oh what an attainment it is which Christians sometimes reach to feel if only for a little while that our whole heart’s wish is that our blessed Saviour’s will be done and His glory be advanced; and that as for us we are content to go where He leads us and to do and bear what He sends sure that the way by which He leads us is the right way and that it will bring us to our home at last! And prayer will bring us to this if anything will. Do not with the gnawing anxiety at your heart sit sullenly and try to bear your burden alone. Go with a lowly heart and roll your burden on the strong arm of God Almighty! Oh how it will lighten your heart to tell Him simply all your fears! You will come back like Jacob from your Saviour’s footstool calmed and cheered. And even if the stroke should fall even if we come out of our trial somewhat stricken and subdued not quite the people we were--as Jacob came lamed from that long night of prevailing prayer--we shall be thankful and content if the stroke be sanctified to us: as he (we may be sure) would never murmur as he halted on through life. One word to prevent misapprehension. All this peace and hope is spoken only to Christian people. “There is no peace saith my God to the wicked ” or to any who have no part in Christ. We can speak no comfort to such in their fears. There is too good reason for that dull foreboding of evil they bear through life. Their fears are not needless. (A. K. H. Boyd D. D.)

The brothers reconciled

I. THE APPROACH OF THE BROTHERS.

1. Of Esau. At the head of four hundred armed men. Probably at the first meditating revenge or to make a great display of his power. But Jacob was a man of prayer. Had often asked God to guard and keep him. Had the night before this meeting so mightily prevailed in prayer that his name had been altered. In answer to the prayers of Jacob the revengeful feelings of Esau depart. As he draws nigh Esau feels his heart drawn out in love towards his brother.

2. Of Jacob. Full of hope and confidence. Lame and yet strong. He is now the prevailer. The sun shining upon him and better still God lifts upon him the light of His countenance. He had sent forward the present and now places himself in advance of all the rest. He--the prevailer--does not fear to meet the first storm of his brother’s rage.

II. RECONCILIATION OF THE BROTHERS. Esau the offended and injured instead of taking vengeance on Jacob having his heart softened by the grace of God runs towards Jacob. Does not proudly wait for Jacob to approach and then upbraid him for his past conduct. Ran towards him. Then spoke not a single word. Could not. Too full of joy at once more meeting his long-lost brother. They throw themselves in one another’s arms. The kiss of reconciliation. Tears of joy gratitude. Tears too it may be of penitence on both sides. Each needed to be forgiven by the other. Each had done wrong. Jacob in that he had deprived his brother of the birthright and the blessing; and Esau in that he had left his father’s house and harboured wrong feelings against his brother and been the cause of his long exile. Persons offended with each other have often much need of each other’s forgiveness. The pardon should be on both sides. He who forgives should also seek forgiveness.

III. THE CONDUCT OF THE BROTHERS.

1. Of Jacob. He entreats Esau to accept his present. Will take no denial. Thus shows the sincerity of his affection. Is unwilling that Esau should at all go out of his way to guard him. Has sufficient trust in God alone.

2. Of Esau. At length to please his brother accepts the present he makes. It is often as kind to accept as to make a present. He kindly received the wives and children of Jacob. Goes on the way before Jacob to make the way clear. Acts as his brother’s guide and vanguard. Shows his forgiveness by deeds as well as by words. Without practical kindness words are “sounding brass ” &c.

Learn:

1. In all angry partings remember that a future meeting will come.

2. God can still the raging of the fiercest storm of passion and revenge.

3. The reconciliation of brethren a fit and beautiful sight.

4. We have all sinned against God and need His forgiveness.

5. By causing Esau to forgive his brother God shows how ready He is to forgive us.

6. Our elder Brother Jesus has obtained a full pardon for us. (J. C. Gray.)

The contrast

Reposing therefore with confidence on the promised protection of his God Jacob crossed the brook at sunrise and rejoining his family went calmly on his way. A short time appears to have brought on the crisis of his trial: “Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked and behold Esau came and with him four hundred men.” It is not difficult to conceive the rush of contending feelings that would agitate his breast when the hostile party came in sight; nor to imagine to what a height the tumult of his thoughts would increase as the two bands approached each other. Grace does not make us stoics. It controls and regulates the natural affections by subordinating them to higher principles; but men of the warmest piety while they are preserved from an exuberant and inordinate indulgence of the affections are generally possessed of the most tender and benevolent spirit. Excessive natural affection is a common and in no respects a sublimated feeling. But the leading point on which I wish at this time to fix your attention is the manifest superiority of character discoverable in Jacob when compared with his elder brother--a superiority evidently not arising from superior intellect or other natural advantages but originating in his religious principles and habits. A fair and unprejudiced examination of the case before us will show that the godly man the faithful servant of God through Jesus Christ has a superiority of character to other men both in principle and in practice.

1. He possesses a superiority of principle. To examine this more closely--

2. The superiority of the religious man’s conduct as originating in this principle. A principle so powerful could not be in action without producing very manifest results. Nor is it; for the man who truly believes the redemption of the gospel “lives no longer to himself but unto Him who died for him.” We do not say that there is no virtue among men without the influence of revealed religion. All the virtues of the natural character are of a much lower origin. They are spurious and defective in the motive and principle from which they spring. They are frequently constitutional. Taken however at their highest point such manifestations of virtuous principle are fleeting and uncertain. Let us notice by way of illustration the two instances of moral virtue which arise out of the present event of Jacob’s life--those of content and liberality.

Let us now endeavour to draw some plain practical instructions from the whole.

1. In the first place it will be evident where we must look for the spring of superior virtue; not in the spontaneous emotions of a man’s own heart not in the strong stimulus of occasional circumstances not in the influence of human opinion not in the rewarded efforts of heroic resolution but in the right appreciation of a dying Saviour’s love. All other principles will fail in their own time and way.

2. Observe this contrast of the character of Esau and Jacob will enable men of excellent moral habits to discriminate between the virtue of habit and the virtue of principle.

3. This subject speaks with peculiar force to the covetous man. True Christianity imparts in a high degree the graces of content and liberality. A greedy pursuit of gain is utterly inconsistent with the self-denying spirit of the gospel. This alone ought to be felt as a cutting rebuke for the love of money. (E. Craig.)

The reconciliation

I. THE FRIENDLY MEETING.

II. THE PRUDENT SEPARATION. Perhaps Jacob was still a little afraid of the impetuosity of his brother. But the deepest reason why Jacob politely declined Esau’s offer of help and companionship was we may well believe a religious one. He saw that the aims which Esau would have in view and the habits of Esau’s life would not suit what he (Jacob) wished to keep in mind and do. Besides he felt that God intended him to keep apart from his brother and to train his family in the special knowledge of the covenant with Abraham and of all the promises which God had given. “Can two walk together except they be agreed?”

III. THE MEMORIAL OF GRATITUDE. Implying--

1. Thankfulness. God had enriched guided defended comforted him.

2. Faith. Jacob would trust and worship God.

3. Hope. God who had blessed him hitherto would help him now and in his further career. (W. S. Smith B. D.)

Needlessness of anxiety

The present was quite unnecessary; the plan useless. God “appeased” Esau as He had already appeased Laban. Thus it is He ever delights to rebuke our poor coward unbelieving hearts and put to flight all our fears Instead of the dreaded sword of Esau Jacob meets his embrace and kiss; instead of strife and conflict they mingle their tears. Such are God’s ways. Who would not trust Him? Who would not honour Him with the heart’s fullest confidence? Why is it that notwithstanding all the sweet evidence of His faithfulness to those who put their trust in Him we are so ready on every fresh occasion to doubt and hesitate? The answer is simple we are not sufficiently acquainted with God. “Acquaint now thyself with Him and be at peace” (Job 22:21). This is true whether in reference to the unconverted sinner or to the child of God. The true knowledge of God real acquaintance with Him is life and peace. (C. H. M.)

Lessons

1. God’s promise falls not short in making men yield to His saints.

2. Where God moveth even wicked men will make speed and run to show kindness to His servants.

3. The hardest hearts melt in affection when God toucheth them.

4. When men please God enemies are made friends to them (Proverbs 16:7).

5. Where greatest danger is feared God turns it to greatest love.

6. It is natural for brethren good and bad to melt in tears upon providential turns and meetings (Genesis 33:4). (G. Hughes B. D.)

Lessons

1. Brotherly respect unto brethren will work kind inquisition after their relations.

2. Love makes queries to know such relations as are to be beloved.

3. Truth piety and humility become all the answers to be made unto queries of love by God’s servants.

4. Children are to be acknowledged the fruit of God’s mercy and goodness to His (Psalms 127:3).

5. The anger of enraged men is turned into love and tenderness best by self-denying submission. The reed overcomes the wind by yielding; the oaks fall by resisting (Genesis 33:5).

6. It becometh family relations to keep order designed by their head.

7. Orderly approach and submission is the way to gain acceptance with great men.

8. Providence works by motions of creatures to turn hearts from fury to love (Genesis 33:6-7). (G. Hughes B. D.)

The reconciliation of Esau and Jacob

1. Brotherly love is a precious thing; let it be guarded well. Be just and true and kind to one another; and let a spirit of forbearance and forgiveness prevail.

2. We see here a striking example of prayer. Wrong as Jacob had been before he was right in this.

3. Jacob sets us an example also of wisdom and prudence. He prayed; yet he used all the means in his power.

4. The very word reconciliation cannot but remind us of the great reconciliation--that between the sinner and God. If God in answer to prayer disposed Esau to be reconciled to his brother surely He Himself will not refuse pardon reconciliation and acceptance to one who has offended Him.

5. God will give His Holy Spirit to those that ask Him; and in this office among others as the spirit of peace. He will help those of one family to live together in peace to bear and forbear to love as brethren. Nay more: He can by the same mighty influence create a new heart in those who have as yet been far from Him. (F. Bourdillon.)

Verse 9

Genesis 33:9; Genesis 33:11

I have enough

Contentment from two points of view

I.
HERE IS AN UNGODLY MAN WHO HAS ENOUGH (Genesis 33:9). Esau. Unconverted men are sometimes contented with their lot in this life.

1. It is not always or often so: they are mostly a dissatisfied company.

2. It is sometimes so: as in the case of Esau. This may arise from--

3. It has some good points about it.

4. Yet it has its evil side.

II. HERE IS A GODLY MAN WHO HAS ENOUGH (Genesis 33:11). Jacob.

1. It is a pity that this is not true of every Christian man.

2. It is delightful to have enough. Contentment surpasses riches.

3. It is pleasant to have somewhat to spare for the poor (Ephesians 4:28).

4. It is blessed to have all this through our God. Jacob said “God hath dealt graciously with me and I have enough.”

5. It is best of all to have all things. In the margin we read that Jacob said “I have all things.” “All things are yours” (1 Corinthians 3:22).

Thus he has enough of strength and grace. Enough in Christ in the Word and in the Spirit. Enough in God’s love power and faithfulness and an immeasurable supply in God Himself whose name is “God All-sufficient.” The child of God should be ashamed of discontent since even a common sinner may be free from it. He should be heartily satisfied; for he has all things and what more can he desire? “ O rest in the Lord” (Psalms 37:7). (C. H. Spurgeon.)

Lessons

1. Natural affection will urge to inquire of the outward state of brethren as well as of relations.

2. Modesty in nature will expostulate about brethren’s offers of love rather then covetously take them.

3. Providential occurrences of good pretended may occasion natural men to inquire about them.

4. Humble souls as under providence they do seek favour with men by presents so they profess it (Genesis 33:8).

5. It is possible for natural men to have a kind of sufficiency and content in their possessions.

6. Nature may desire others to keep their own as it is contented with its portion.

7. Nature is apt to think earthly possessions enough without God (Genesis 33:9).

8. Ingenuity and grace is not only liberal but urgent to have fruits of love accepted.

9. Acceptance of loving presents is a token of acceptance of persons.

10. It is just cause of importunity in pressing pacifying presents when God’s face is seen in reconciled adversaries.

11. Unexpected love from displeased ones engageth to press kindness on them (Genesis 33:10).

12. Presents of gracious souls from God to men are blessings.

13. Grace is importunate with man as well as with God to win Him.

14. God’s gracious respects to saints causeth them so to respect their brethren.

15. God’s Jacobs gracious souls they have not only enough but all in the grace of God.

16. The all-sufficiency which God giveth His saints makes them so pressing kindness to others.

17. Nature is overcome by the importunity of grace to accept an outward blessing.

18. Brotherly conference is the way of winning upon men of bad spirits. All this between Jacob and Esau is by loving parley. (G. Hughes B. D.)

Christian contentment

A poor Christian woman who was breaking her fast upon a crust and a cup of water exclaimed “What! all this and Christ too!” (C. H. Spurgeon.)

A Puritan preacher asking a blessing on a herring and potatoes said “Lord we thank Thee that Thou hast ransacked sea and land to find food for Thy children.” (C. H. Spurgeon.)

Angelic content

The great cry with everybody is “Get on! get on!” just as if the world were travelling post. How astonished these people will be if they arrive in heaven to find the angels who are much wiser than they laying no schemes to be made archangels! (Maxims for Meditation.)

Content from a quiet mind

Is not the bee as well contented with feeding on the dew or sucking from a flower as the ox that grazeth on the mountains? Contentment lies within a man in the heart; and the way to be comfortable is not by having our barrels filled but our minds quieted. The contented man (saith Seneca)is the happy man . . . Discontent robs a man of the power to enjoy what he possesses. A drop or two of vinegar will sour a whole glass of wine. (T. Watson.)

Contentment of the unregenerate

As a typical instance of the contentment of some unregenerate persons note the following: “A captain of a whale-ship told one of the wretched natives of Greenland that he sincerely pitied the miserable life to which he was condemned. ‘Miserable!’ exclaimed the savage. ‘I have always had a fish-bone through my nose and plenty of train-oil to drink: what more could I desire?’” (C. H. Spurgeon.)

I have enough

1. The first man who ever said so.

2. What even non-spiritual men may say. Should not Christians say more?

3. Property should be a heart-store.

4. “Enough” can never be true of spiritual blessings.

5. The evils of avaricious grasping.

6. We must not be avaricious even on the plea that it is for others

7. Christianity should be proved by contentment. Examples of

Christ and Paul. (J. Parker D. D.)

Verse 11