Redeemer Church of Oklahoma City

And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants. And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. –Genesis 33:1-4

Jacob had had quite a night. He wrestled with God and was permanently maimed from the experience. Without sleep he did not have the strength to fight with Esau nor was his apparently peak physical condition peak anymore. Esau had his 400-man militia there too. Jacob moved the shield of his family out of the way and bowed down to his brother seven times from whom he stole the blessing 20 years before. Interestingly this is quite a reversal from the blessing Isaac gave Jacob (thinking it was Esau): Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you (Gen. 27:29).

Jacob was promised just a few hours before that he would win (his new name Israel), but this looks rough. Maybe, just maybe, Esau would spare the women and children.

But Esau ran, met, embraced, fell, kissed, and wept.

When we are at the end of ourselves, when we have nothing but the gospel promises, when our strength and self-justification is gone, and we know that we would justly be obliterated because of our sin, well, that’s such a great to be. That’s the place where the one who has every right to judge us for our sin meets us the way the father met the prodigal son. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. (Luke 15:20).

And that’s the gospel! Come hear it preached and enacted in the supper with Jesus this Sunday.

The related hymns we’ll sing are:
Come, Christians, Join to Sing
Alas! And Did My Savior Bleed
Take My Life

LADIES’ FELLOWSHIP
The Redeemer ladies will enjoy seeing The Jerusalem Collection exhibit Saturday, July 24, 10:00 am at the Oklahoma Heritage Museum. Lunch will follow afterwards at the Prairie Thunder Baking Company. RSVP here. All ladies are invited.

SUNDAY SCHOOL
Sunday school for children (in Genesis) and adults (in Galatians) is continues. Coffee and other treats are served at 9:15, teaching begins at 9:30, and we break to get ready for worship at 10:15. 

Visitors are always welcome!