NOTES for Gen 33:1-20
When Jacob wrestled with God for a blessing, he expected to receive from Him power for his encounter with his brother, a supernatural power that he thought might be very useful to him. Instead of power, he receives a new name and becomes a different, new person. It would seem that this has no particular significance for his meeting with Esau. Yet it turns out that inward changes can sometimes lead to outward changes as well, and very substantial ones at that.
In any event, the meeting with Esau takes place quite peacefully, without the bloodshed Jacob so greatly feared. Esau had probably also changed during Jacob’s absence, although it is difficult to say for certain. One thing is clear: much time had passed, and if Jacob had managed to become a different person during his years away, the same could quite well have happened to Esau.
God worked with Jacob in a special way, but He never abandons anyone, at least not until a person himself gives Him an unequivocal and resolute “no.” It is unlikely that God had completely forgotten Esau, for when He cared for Isaac, for example, He did not abandon Ishmael either. In any case, the brothers meet peacefully. Jacob is now a different person and lays claim to nothing.
He now undoubtedly views differently all the things he did in his youth in his family home. He also understands that Esau is stronger and that Esau has a greater right to the authority he holds in their native tribe. Jacob is ready to recognize his brother’s rights, but this is hardly due merely to his now seeing the situation more realistically and no longer making risky, far-reaching plans. Jacob has simply learned to trust God.
This is not only the ability to wait; it is precisely the assurance that God will be able to show him the right way and will do what Jacob himself could never achieve through his own strength and plans. Jacob truly became a man of God. It took many decades and cost him great effort and risk, but God made Jacob what He wanted him to be. Jacob’s plan was ready to be fulfilled, though not in the way Jacob himself had imagined.