Commentary:    "Confronting the Past"

             

After spending more than 20 years in Haran, in order to get there and longing to return to his homeland of Canaan, Jacob knew he must pass through Edom, his brother Esau's territory.  This would NOT be an easy journey.  God reassures Jacob,

"I will be with you."

 

Already filled with a sense of anxiety about seeing his brother after all these years, Jacob receives the news from his messengers that Esau is on his way to meet Jacob and he has 400 men with him.  This causes even more stress on Jacob, as he devises a plan to divide his people, his family, his possessions into two camps.  In doing this, if Esau should attack one, the other survives.  Sending them all away, Jacob finds himself alone in the night as he encounters an angel.  He wrestles with this stranger throughout the night until daybreak when Jacob finally says, "I will not let you go until you bless me." (Genesis 32:26)  The angel replies, "What is your name?" and Jacob tells the stranger his name, which means "deceiver".  By stating his name to the angel, Jacob must face his character as a deceiver.  It is then that the angel changes his name from Jacob to Israel, meaning "overcomer" or "victorious".  Jacob has shown strong tenacity and did not give up in the struggle.  The angel also injures Jacob's thigh.  Jacob calls the place of this encounter "Peniel" - the Face of God - as he believed he had seen God that night face to face.

 

When Jacob went to meet Esau, upon approaching him, Jacob bowed seven times, and to his surprise, Esau ran to meet him, embraced him and kissed him. This was totally an unexpected response for Jacob.

 

We can learn from Jacob that confronting the past can be difficult, however, when we place our fears and concerns in the hands of the Lord and trust Him, we are Overcomers, as He has promised to be with us every step of the way.

                                           

 "To Trust or NOT To Trust"

 

Continuing with the reading we see the defilement of Jacob and Leah's daughter, Dinah, by Shekem, who loved her and desired to marry her, and the response to this defilement by her brothers.  They were angry and decided to take matters into their own hands. Jacob had reached an agreement of the marriage of Dinah with one condition - that all the men of the city of Shekem be circumcised.  While the men were recovering from the pain, the brothers of Dinah slaughtered ALL of the men of the city, took their possessions and their wives.  This act of revenge discredited their father Jacob's name among the people of Canaan.  God intervenes and commands Jacob to go to Beth-El and make an altar to God. Jacob obeys, and all his people.  God appears to Jacob once again and blesses him, renewing His promises.

                         

Jacob goes to Hebron and on the way, his wife Rachel dies giving birth to their second son, Benjamin.  After burying her, Jacob proceeds to go to his father, Isaac, in Hebron.

                         

The parashat then lists his twelve sons, and after the death of his father Isaac, it concludes with the geneology of Esau, his wives, his children and grandchildren.

 

READ ALSO:  Hebrews 11:11-20