The Bible Study Podcast, episode 678.

Today, the Bible Study podcast continues the study of the book of Genesis with chapter 33.

Welcome to the Bible Study podcast.

I'm your host, Chris Christensen.

As you may remember,

Jacob has left his father-in-law Laban's house. They snuck out in the night. Laban caught up with them and they made peace, but he has brought his wives and his children and his flocks and his servants and all of

those things that have made him a rich

man, and he is headed back towards home.

But the problem with heading towards home is that when he left there 20 years earlier, his brother

wanted to kill him because he had taken his birth, right, and his blessing.

And so he has been afraid to meet Esau. He has divided his group into different flocks, into different wives and different children, and sent them off

in different groups just in case he is attacked by his brother. Then he's hoping that some of them

will survive. And then last week we saw

that he wrestled with God and changed his name from Jacob to Israel. This week, Jacob meets Esau,

chapter 33. Jacob looked up and there was Esau coming with his 400 men. So he divided the children

among Leah, Rachel, and the two female servants.

He put the female servants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear.

He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.

But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him.

He threw his arms around his neck and kissed him and they wept. Then Esau looked up and saw

the women and children. Who were these with you? He asked. Jacob answered, these are the children

God has graciously given your servant. Then the female servants and their children approached and bowed down.

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