1 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 (Genesis 33:1-4).
Esau’s response seemed to surprise Jacob. Jacob had expected confrontation and instead he received a warm welcome. That this was unexpected can be seen in the order in which he arranged his people. Basically, Jacob put his most favored people and possessions the farthest away from Esau. Can you imagine how this would have made some of his family feel? It was a set-up for future jealousy and strife, as we will soon learn. The end does not always justify the means; it matters how and why actions are taken.
Esau’s response seemed to surprise Jacob. Jacob had expected confrontation and instead he received a warm welcome. That this was unexpected can be seen in the order in which he arranged his people. Basically, Jacob put his most favored people and possessions the farthest away from Esau. Can you imagine how this would have made some of his family feel? It was a set-up for future jealousy and strife, as we will soon learn. The end does not always justify the means; it matters how and why actions are taken.
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