Our parasha begins with Jacob heading to Seir, the territory of his brother Esau. Since Adonai told him to return to his land, he couldn’t avoid passing by Esau’s area. He was still afraid of his brother, knowing that Esau had once wanted to kill him. But instead of focusing on his fear, he saw an opportunity to ask for forgiveness and humbled himself. How?
A. He sent messengers and prepared an offering upon meeting Esau (vv. 3–5)
He called his brother Esau “lord” to show humility. He prepared animals as an offering to Esau, as a sign that he wanted reconciliation. We can see two foreshadowings here:
First, the image of animal offerings in the Mishkan through Aaron the High Priest for the forgiveness of Israel’s sins as a community.
Second, through the line of Jacob, the Promised Messiah would come as the sacrificial Lamb to take away the sin of the world.
B. He recognized his need for Adonai and prayed (vv. 9–12)
How did Jacob pray? He mentioned the God of his fathers Abraham and Isaac. He repeated what Adonai had told him—to return to his land and that Adonai would be with him. He admitted that he wasn’t worthy of Adonai’s mercy and pleaded for safety. He recalled Adonai's promise to prosper him.
Jacob’s prayer reminds us that the most powerful position in the world is to kneel before Adonai YHVH!
C. He wrestled with an Angel of Adonai (vv. 24–32)
Why include this as part of Jacob’s humility? Let’s look at Hosea 12:4a: “Yes, he struggled with the Angel and prevailed; he wept and sought favor from Him.”
When the Angel changed Jacob’s name to Israel, He said, “For you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.” Yes, Jacob prevailed in his struggles with his brother Esau, his father Isaac, his father-in-law Laban, his wives, and with the Angel of God—and yet, he didn’t boast but asked the Angel to bless him.
Just as Jacob crossed over Penuel, the sun rose upon him. He was injured but had a new name and closeness with Adonai. As grafted-in believers, we also struggle until dawn, but when the sun rises, Adonai’s blessing will come.
Now the challenge from this point is: Are we still wrestling with God in our decisions and in following His instructions?
The Hebrew word for “wrestle” is abaq, which often implies a physical struggle involving dust or dirt, like a wrestling match on the ground. After the wrestling match, the Man (whom I believe is Yeshua, the pre-incarnate Son of God) changed Jacob’s name to Israel, which means "God perseveres" or "God prevails."
His name was changed because after spending time in the house of his uncle Laban and after seeing his brother Esau again, he would enter a new phase of life. From then on, he would no longer deceive or follow his own ways, because God had prevailed in his life.
Like Jacob, we should no longer wrestle with God. He should be the One who prevails and is followed in our lives.
D. He bowed himself to the ground until he came near to Esau (33:3)
Notice the result of Jacob’s bowing down:
Esau ran to meet him—not just to greet him, but perhaps because he missed him after 20 years of separation.
Esau embraced him, fell on Jacob’s neck, and kissed him. In Genesis 25:22, the two of them had struggled in Rebekah’s womb, but now it was time to express love for each other.
Esau and Jacob wept. They cried because their hearts had changed.
Esau wanted the two of them to travel together, but Jacob declined. Why?
Now that he had a new name, he was confident that he didn’t need the presence of Esau and his men to return to Canaan, because Adonai YHVH was always with him to protect him. His fear of his brother had vanished. Because of Jacob’s humility, he learned to trust the God of his father.
In my opinion, the separation of Jacob and Esau shows that they were destined for different paths. Esau would eventually become the forefather of the Edomites, while the children of Israel would come from Jacob.
True strength is not in conquering others, but in conquering the pride that keeps us apart.
Are there relationships in your life where pride still stands in the way of peace? Like Jacob, will you take the first step in humility and reconciliation—even if it costs your comfort?
-- H A F T A R A H P O R T I O N --
Instead of helping their brothers during attacks, they stood aside and rejoiced over Judah’s destruction. No survivor shall remain from the house of Esau because they will be cut off forever. This should be a warning to all nations that seek to destroy Adonai’s chosen people.
“I have loved you,” says Adonai. But you say, “How have You loved us?” “Was not Esau Jacob’s brother?” declares Adonai. “Yet I have loved Jacob; but I have hated Esau, and I have made his mountains a desolation and appointed his inheritance for the jackals of the wilderness.” — Malachi 1:2–3
Edom’s destruction was divine judgment for their treachery against Jacob (Israel), especially during the Babylonian siege:
“On the day that you stood aloof, on the day that strangers carried off his wealth... You too were as one of them.” — Obadiah 1:11
God is always faithful to Israel. Even when using her enemies as instruments of discipline, He will never abandon her.
Zechariah 12:9
“And on that day I will set about to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.”
Malachi 3:6
“For I the LORD do not change; therefore you, O children of Jacob, are not consumed.”
When pride builds its fortress in the heart, it becomes blind to its fall.
Have you silently rejoiced in the struggles of others, especially those who once hurt you? Ask Adonai to expose and cleanse any hidden pride that keeps you from reflecting His justice and mercy.
-- APOSTOLIC P O R T I O N --
The Apostolic section chosen for this Torah portion focuses on the theme of trials—a direct connection to the life of Jacob, who wrestled both physically and spiritually before meeting his brother Esau. James,
the half-brother of Yeshua, wrote to the twelve tribes—or Jews—who lived
outside the Promised Land. He considered them brethren and gave them advice on
how to face various trials:
With joy – because trials test
their faith and produce patience.
With wisdom – because trials
require tough decisions.
With faith – they need to trust
Adonai YHVH.
With no doubt – because doubters
are like waves tossed by the sea, unable to settle.
James is not promoting pain for its own sake, nor ignoring the true suffering that trials bring. Rather, he teaches that trials are not random or meaningless. Instead, they are part of God's sovereign plan to refine us. We are to consider trials “all joy,” not because of the pain, but because of what we know:
God is in control, and He is shaping us into the image of His Son.
“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God…” — Romans 8:28
James also reminded his brethren
in verse 12 that the person who endures temptation (which can also mean trials)
is blessed.
The Greek word for “blessed” is makarios, which means “more than simply
happy or fortunate.”
For James, the reason a blessed person can be truly happy is because he will
receive the crown of life, which Adonai YHVH has promised to those who love
Him.
This teaching also holds deep implications for community life. Often, our most painful trials are relational—misunderstandings, offenses, disappointments. In those moments, we face the temptation to strike back, to retreat, or to ignore the problem. But James calls us higher: to endure, to forgive, to restore. That kind of endurance builds stronger communities and molds each believer into the likeness of Yeshua.
Trials are not roadblocks but refining fires—where faith is tested, character is formed, and purpose is revealed.
Reflect on a recent trial in your life—especially one involving relationships. Did you endure or escape? Did you restore or retreat? This week, ask God to help you “let endurance have its perfect result.” Reach out to reconcile, seek forgiveness where needed, and allow God to shape you through the very trial you wish to avoid.
The connection in our Parasha is
about humility: In the Torah, Jacob was meek and
humbled himself before Esau. In the Haftarah, Adonai humbled
Edom, the descendants of Esau, because of their pride. In the Apostolic Writings, James
said in verse 9, “But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his
high position.”
Back to my introduction…
Humility
or meekness can lead to forgiveness. Like Jacob, who humbled himself before his brother, the result was that Esau
ran, embraced, and kissed him.
In Philippians 2:8, Yeshua, being found in appearance as a man, humbled Himself
and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross—so we can be
FORGIVEN.
“True humility is not thinking
less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”
— C.S. Lewis
Shabbat Shalom,
Topher
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-- S O U R C E S --
Torahclass.com
torahresource.com
Atozmomm.com
Atah.net
Openbible.info
Thefellowship.site
Ligonier.org
The Mac Arthur Study Bible
Explainingthebook.com
bibleoutlines.com
Shabbat shalom
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