Genesis 33:3
(Jacob) himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
Jacob walked on the street side of his wife and children. He put himself between the danger and his beloved. While one may take issue with the level of meekness he employed in approaching his brother, one cannot take issue with his level of responsibility in leading the way by facing the danger. Jacob could have avoided this perilous situation if it were not for his faith in following God's command for him to return. In this, we see a changed Jacob. He chooses the dangerous journey because God has chosen it for him and he protects his family at the risk of his own life.
Genesis 33:20
There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.
The man who wrestled with God limped back and forth to gather the stones he needed to erect an altar that reached high into sky declaring boldly, "Israel's God is El!" (short for Elohim) In other words, "I, Israel (formerly Jacob), worship the one, true God. The only God that exists… He is my God! He isn't just God in general, He is my God specifically. I worship Him. God is God of Israel!"
(Jacob) himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
Jacob walked on the street side of his wife and children. He put himself between the danger and his beloved. While one may take issue with the level of meekness he employed in approaching his brother, one cannot take issue with his level of responsibility in leading the way by facing the danger. Jacob could have avoided this perilous situation if it were not for his faith in following God's command for him to return. In this, we see a changed Jacob. He chooses the dangerous journey because God has chosen it for him and he protects his family at the risk of his own life.
Genesis 33:20
There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.
The man who wrestled with God limped back and forth to gather the stones he needed to erect an altar that reached high into sky declaring boldly, "Israel's God is El!" (short for Elohim) In other words, "I, Israel (formerly Jacob), worship the one, true God. The only God that exists… He is my God! He isn't just God in general, He is my God specifically. I worship Him. God is God of Israel!"
I just read this chapter with the kids today! It's refreshing to think of it from this perspective - we were all getting a little exasperated with Jacob's constant conniving, deception and cowardice. What an amazing God, who can enable someone like that to do the noble things you've pointed out!
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