Jacob and Esau; Peter Paul Rubens; 1624 Wikimedia; CCL
Meditation
Tuesday, Ordinary 16/Proper 11 celebrated the contrasts of brothers and the distinctions of those who follow the law versus those who are working under grace. The Old Testament lesson in Genesis completed the story of Esau and Jacob, bringing the estranged brothers together. In yesterday’s lesson, Jacob returned to the land of his youth and sent servants ahead in staggered groups with gifts, while he stayed behind with his family…cowering in fear of the 400 men with Esau.
Jacob divided his wives and children into two groups, protecting them still. He moved ahead and performed ritual bowing and scraping as he approached his twin-elder brother. But Esau reached out to him and embraced him, treating him with courtesy and respect.
Esau even told Jacob that he didn’t need to give him all the gifts. They were reconciled and Esau offered his men to help bring the extensive herds to meet up again in Edom.
The New Testament lesson in Galatians spoke of another pair of brothers, half-siblings that were born to Abraham. Hagar bore Abraham a child, but it was not the child of promise. Ishmael and Isaac became at loggerheads.
The Apostle wrote that those that try to make the ‘law’ or ‘legalese’ dictate their lives are living as slaves. They are not living as children of promise. They were living according to the natural-sinful way of things instead of the spiritual way of things. When we become believers, we have the opportunity to live under grace and like Isaac was the child of promise, there is freedom when we operate under grace.
So many churches, church leaders and Christians get caught up in the ‘should do’s and forget about the fact that we live under grace. We can revert to legalism but God prefers that we choose to take advantage of the sacrifice Jesus made for us and live under grace with all the freedom that entails.
Thanks be to God.
All Scriptures printed below are in King James Version for copyright purposes. However, clicking on the verse locations will take you to Biblegateway.com where the text is linked to more contemporary versions.
Click on the Scriptures for links to biblegateway.com, where many translations of the same text enhance the understanding the readings, which come from the (RCL) Revised Common Lectionary – Daily Lectionary
Readings. I add a Daily Prayer to bless you with God’s Favor.
Enjoy the Daily Encouragement and Bible Study and may you be inspired to be your best self for Ordinary 16/Proper 11 .
Ordinary 16/Proper 11
Peace in the Valley – Brothers in Christ
Jacob and Esau
Artist A.N. Mironov, Wikimedia, Public Domain, CCL
Prayer: Almighty God, Open my eyes that I might see. Open my mind that I might understand. Open my heart that I might make your words a part of me. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight. Amen
Ordinary 16/Proper 11
Hymn to Freedom – Oscar Peterson
Reconciliation of Jacob and Esau
Norwegian cast iron stove. Left side and right side: meeting between Esau and Jacob. 1600 ca. Copenhagen, National Museum of Denmark. Picture by Stefano Bolognini, Wikimedia Public Domain, CCL
Ordinary 16/Proper 11
Bible Readings
http://legacy.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20139:13-18;Genesis%2033:1-17;Galatians%204:21%E2%80%945:1&version=KJV;ERV;GNT;NCV;CEV
(multiple versions)
Tuesday, Ordinary 16/Proper 11
Daily Bible Verses to Memorize for Meditating
King James Version (KJV)
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24 And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Single Bible Study chapter to study
King James Version (KJV)
33 And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.
2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.
3 And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.
James Tissot, The Meeting of Jacob and Esau, Jewish Museum, New York; Wikimedia, CCL
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.
6 Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.
7 And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.
8 And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.
9 And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.
Raffaellino Bottalla (1613 – 1644) (Italian) (Painter); Wikimedia CCL
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.
11 Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.
12 And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.
13 And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.
14 Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.
Jacob and Esau Meet (Gen. 33:1-20); 1866; Wikimedia CCL
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.
16 So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.
17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
OBSERVE:
Take a moment and write three observations of the verses. What strikes you? An observation is an observable fact from the Word.
1.
2.
3.
INTERPRETATION:
What do you interpret these verses to mean for you today?
APPLY:
Today, I learned _____________________________________and apply it to my life.
Prayer of Encouragement
Almighty God, forgive us for making decisions that bring us back into legalism instead of living in the freedom of grace. We praise your name for reconciling us even as Esau and Jacob reconciled. Help us to live free and give you the glory. In Jesus name, Amen
Ordinary 16/Proper 11
Music
Freedom Reigns – Jesus Culture
Ordinary 16/Proper 11 Humor
Jacob and Esau Reunion
©Jeff Larson, Used by permission
You Made a Way – Chris Quilala
I hope you found a chance to encounter your Creator and experience the Love of God and the joy of Christ in Ordinary 16/Proper 11.
Conclusion
Tuesday, Ordinary 16/Proper 11 compared siblings—twins Esau and Jacob with their reconciliation and half-brothers Isaac and Ishmael. Tied in with the familial relations were the issues of freedom and grace, legalism and judgment, opportunity and challenge.
Esau and Jacob were estranged, but they achieved their success in life from the blessings of God and were able to put away the past hurts and start a new journey of peace.
Isaac and Ishmael were at odds. They demonstrated what happens when we try to do things on our own. Abraham tried to make things happen his way and didn’t trust that God would fulfill the promise of a child despite the odds. Living by the law does not open the possibilities of freedom that living by grace would.
Go out and be ready for God to do mighty things in your life—for the glory of God.*
Thank you for visiting ChapLynne’s Daily Encouragement and Bible Study. Please like if it was meaningful. God bless you.
*If you do not know the Lord as your personal Savior and you are seeking, please contact me. A genuine and simple prayer, asking God into your heart for the forgiveness of your sins will also do.Please like if you are blessed and don’t hesitate to comment or contact me. I love hearing from you.
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