Rabbi’s Reflections – Saturday, January 25, 2025
Shavuah Tov,

Favor in Esau’s Eyes
By David Harwood

The story is familiar to those who have read Genesis. It goes like this:

Jacob swindled his twin, Esau. Esau intended to avenge himself and kill Jacob. Jacob, motivated by self-preservation, left home and married into mother’s brother’s family. After years in exile Jacob began to return home. His motive? I’m sure that he was fed up with the strife in his father-in-law’s household, but he was actually obeying the voice of the God who said:

I am the God of Beth-El where you anointed a memorial stone, where you made a vow to Me. Get up now and leave this land, and return to the land of your relatives. (Genesis 31:13) 

Jacob was about to meet Esau who was on the way to meet him with a small army, about four hundred men. However, Jacob encountered a different army, first.

… the angels of God met him. Then Jacob said when he saw them, “This is God’s camp”, and he named that place Mahanaim. (Genesis 32:2b–3) 

The Lord’s armies met him while he was on his way. Don’t miss this, the word translated camp means a war camp, or army.

It is fitting that Jacob’s obedience to God would result in a revelation that this God was with him. After all, he was obeying the God he met at Beth-El. That is where Jacob encountered God and saw the activity of angels.

… there was a stairway set up on the earth and its top reaching to the heavens—and behold, angels of God going up and down on it! (Genesis 28:12b) 

After he met God’s angels at Mahanaim, Jacob sent human angels (it’s the same word in Hebrew and Greek as in 32:2) to bring a message to Esau. Surprising to me, this was not a David vs. Goliath type of message. For example:

“You come to me with four hundred soldiers, but I have an entourage of the warrior angels of the living God!”

No, Jacob didn’t presume upon a guaranteed military victory. Nor did he want one. He wanted shalom between himself and his brother. What did he do? He sought favor.

I sent word to tell my lord, in order to find favor (chen/charis) in your eyes. (Genesis 32:5b) 

The Scripture records that he sent gifts, not threats. He stated that he wanted to find favor in Esau’s eyes. Then he pleaded with God in abject humility, asking for deliverance from his brother’s wrath. Jacob reminded God of His specific promises to him and he sent peace offerings to Esau.

Then came the encounter when he wrestled with “a man” all night and Jacob received a new, covenant name, Israel.

After this the brothers are reconciled, and Esau asked:

“What do you mean by this whole caravan that I’ve met?” 

So (Jacob) said, “To find favor (chen/charis) in your eyes, my lord.” (Genesis 33:8) 

Afterwards, when Esau offered to escort Jacob, his family, and servants, Jacob appealed to his twin’s goodwill.

Yet Jacob said, “No, please! If I have found favor (chen/charis) in your eyes, then you will take my offering from my hand. For this is the reason I’ve seen your face—it is like seeing the face of God—and you’ve accepted me! (Genesis 33:10) 

He said, “I wanted to find favor in your eyes.” And then, “If I have found favor in your eyes.” Jacob appealed to his brother upon the basis of found favor.

How many bitter years had Esau been nursing his longing for vengeance? Twenty. Finally, after twenty long years, Esau expected that his anger would be satiated with the shedding of his brother’s blood.

But…

Surprisingly, Esau’s heart was stirred towards his brother. He liked the way Jacob approached him. He liked Jacob enough to show him favor/grace (chen/charis). I’m certain that this miracle of reconciliation happened because Jacob found favor in the eyes of the God of Beth-El who wrestled him at Peniel.

God liked what He saw when He saw Jacob. That same God gave him favor/grace in the eyes of his brother.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat 25-Jan-2025 25th of Tevet, 5785 Parashat Vaera
Ex 9:17-35 Ez 28:25-29:21 2 Th 1