"I already have plenty, my brother," Esau replied. "Keep what belongs to you." Sermons
I. THE STRUGGLE. Why thus protracted? It was not merely a prolonged prayer, like Luke 6:12. There was some hindrance to be overcome (cf. Matthew 11:12); not by muscular force, but by earnest supplication. Where Scripture is silent we must speak cautiously. But probable explanation is the state of Jacob's own mind. Hitherto faith had been mixed with faithlessness; belief in the promise with hesitation to commit the means to God. Against this divided mind (James 1:8) the Lord contended. No peace while this remained (cf. Isaiah 26:3). And the lesson of that night was to trust God's promise entirely (cf. Psalm 37:3). When this was learned the wrestling of the Spirit against the double mind was at an end. Such a struggle may be going on in the hearts of some here. A craving for peace, yet a restless disquiet. The gospel believed, yet failing to bring comfort. Prayer for peace apparently unanswered, so that there seemed to be some power contending against us. Why is this? Most probably from failing to commit all to God. Perhaps requiring some sign (John 20:25), some particular state of feeling, or change of disposition; perhaps looking for faith within as the ground of trust; perhaps choosing the particular blessing - self-will as to the morsel of the bread of life to satisfy us, instead of taking every word of God. There is the evil. It is against self thou must strive. Behold thy loving Savior; will he fail thee in the hour of need? Tell all to him; commit thyself into his hands; not once or twice, but habitually. II. THE NEW NAME (Cf. Revelation 3:12). No more Jacob, the crafty, but Israel, God's prince (cf. Revelation 1:6). The token of victory over distrust, self-will, self-confidence. In knowledge of poverty is wealth (Matthew 5:3); in knowledge of weakness, strength (2 Corinthians 12:10). That name is offered to all. The means, persevering prayer; but prayer not to force our will upon God, but that trust may be so entire that our wills may in all things embrace his. - M.
I have enough. I. HERE IS AN UNGODLY MAN WHO HAS ENOUGH (ver. 9). Esau. Unconverted men are sometimes contented with their lot in this life.1. It is not always or often so: they are mostly a dissatisfied company. 2. It is sometimes so: as in the case of Esau. This may arise from — (1) (2) (3) 3. It has some good points about it. (1) (2) 4. Yet it has its evil side. (1) (2) (3) II. HERE IS A GODLY MAN WHO HAS ENOUGH (ver. 11). Jacob. 1. It is a pity that this is not true of every Christian man. 2. It is delightful to have enough. Contentment surpasses riches. 3. It is pleasant to have somewhat to spare for the poor (Ephesians 4:28). 4. It is blessed to have all this through our God. Jacob said, "God hath dealt graciously with me, and I have enough." 5. It is best of all to have all things. In the margin we read that Jacob said, "I have all things." "All things are yours" (1 Corinthians 3:22). (1) (2) (3) ( C. H. Spurgeon.) 2. Modesty in nature will expostulate about brethren's offers of love rather then covetously take them. 3. Providential occurrences of good pretended may occasion natural men to inquire about them. 4. Humble souls as under providence they do seek favour with men by presents, so they profess it (ver. 8). 5. It is possible for natural men to have a kind of sufficiency and content in their possessions. 6. Nature may desire others to keep their own, as it is contented with its portion. 7. Nature is apt to think earthly possessions enough without God (ver. 9). 8. Ingenuity and grace is not only liberal, but urgent to have fruits of love accepted. 9. Acceptance of loving presents is a token of acceptance of persons. 10. It is just cause of importunity in pressing pacifying presents when God's face is seen in reconciled adversaries. 11. Unexpected love from displeased ones engageth to press kindness on them (ver. 10). 12. Presents of gracious souls from God to men are blessings. 13. Grace is importunate with man as well as with God to win Him. 14. God's gracious respects to saints causeth them so to respect their brethren. 15. God's Jacobs, gracious souls, they have not only enough, but all in the grace of God. 16. The all-sufficiency which God giveth His saints makes them so pressing kindness to others. 17. Nature is overcome by the importunity of grace to accept an outward blessing. 18. Brotherly conference is the way of winning upon men of bad spirits. All this between Jacob and Esau is by loving parley. (G. Hughes, B. D.) ( C. H. Spurgeon.)A Puritan preacher asking a blessing on a herring and potatoes, said, "Lord, we thank Thee that Thou hast ransacked sea and land to find food for Thy children." ( C. H. Spurgeon.) The great cry with everybody is, "Get on! get on!" just as if the world were travelling post. How astonished these people will be, if they arrive in heaven, to find the angels, who are much wiser than they, laying no schemes to be made archangels!(Maxims for Meditation.) Is not the bee as well contented with feeding on the dew, or sucking from a flower, as the ox that grazeth on the mountains? Contentment lies within a man, in the heart; and the way to be comfortable is not by having our barrels filled, but our minds quieted. The contented man (saith Seneca)is the happy man ..... Discontent robs a man of the power to enjoy what he possesses. A drop or two of vinegar will sour a whole glass of wine.( T. Watson.) As a typical instance of the contentment of some unregenerate persons, note the following: "A captain of a whale-ship told one of the wretched natives of Greenland that he sincerely pitied the miserable life to which he was condemned. 'Miserable!' exclaimed the savage. 'I have always had a fish-bone through my nose, and plenty of train-oil to drink: what more could I desire?'"( C. H. Spurgeon.) 1. The first man who ever said so.2. What even non-spiritual men may say. Should not Christians say more? 3. Property should be a heart-store. 4. "Enough" can never be true of spiritual blessings. 5. The evils of avaricious grasping. 6. We must not be avaricious, even on the plea that it is for others, 7. Christianity should be proved by contentment. Examples of Christ and Paul. (J. Parker, D. D.) People Aram, Esau, Hamor, Jacob, Joseph, Leah, Rachel, SeirPlaces Canaan, Paddan-aram, Penuel, Seir, Shechem, SuccothTopics Abundance, Already, Brother, Esau, Hast, Plenty, Thyself, YoursOutline 1. Jacob and Esau's meeting; and Esau's departure.17. Jacob comes to Succoth. 18. At Shechem he buys a field, and builds an altar, called El Elohe Israel. Dictionary of Bible Themes Genesis 33:1-11Library Jesus Sets Out from Judæa for Galilee. Subdivision B. At Jacob's Well, and at Sychar. ^D John IV. 5-42. ^d 5 So he cometh to a city of Samaria, called Sychar, near to the parcel of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. 6 and Jacob's well was there. [Commentators long made the mistake of supposing that Shechem, now called Nablous, was the town here called Sychar. Sheckem lies a mile and a half west of Jacob's well, while the real Sychar, now called 'Askar, lies scarcely half a mile north of the well. It was a small town, loosely called … J. W. McGarvey—The Four-Fold Gospel The Roman Pilgrimage: the Miracles which were Wrought in It. Genesis Links Genesis 33:9 NIVGenesis 33:9 NLT Genesis 33:9 ESV Genesis 33:9 NASB Genesis 33:9 KJV Genesis 33:9 Bible Apps Genesis 33:9 Parallel Genesis 33:9 Biblia Paralela Genesis 33:9 Chinese Bible Genesis 33:9 French Bible Genesis 33:9 German Bible Genesis 33:9 Commentaries Bible Hub |