Introduction

Greetings! Let's delve into the thirty-third chapter of Genesis. What exactly is this chapter about? I believe perspectives may vary. Previously, when I read it, I focused on the fact that Esau did not kill Jacob. However, this time, no matter how I read it, I feel that my previous interpretation was not entirely correct. This time may not be entirely accurate either. Reading Genesis 33 again in two years might bring new insights.

One must recognize that you will continuously improve. We need to view issues with a developmental perspective and also view ourselves with a developmental perspective. Never emulate some foolish individuals. There was once a person with paranoia, a mental patient. I delivered him from the bondage of mental illness, and then he approached me, seemingly very reasonable, saying: "Teacher, you said this five years ago, how can you say something different now? Was it wrong five years ago, or is it wrong now?" Silly boy, I truly felt helpless.

This is a form of ignorance! If I were to be ignorant along with him, I would be stuck! Either I admit that I was wrong five years ago, which I would find embarrassing, or I admit that I am wrong now, which I would also find embarrassing. However, I have Jacob's approach – I keep a low profile. I often think, is it wrong for me to be wrong? I say I have improved! Is it wrong to have improved? Everyone should cultivate the habit of improvement. What is there to fear about being wrong in the past? It doesn't matter. What is there to fear about being wrong now? It's still better than not doing anything. Chinese Mingding Destiny has a characteristic of often feeling that they haven't gotten it right, even to this day.

Someone else came to challenge me, saying: "Teacher, you are teaching incorrectly, aren't you misleading people? So many misleading people haven't misled you, can my attempt to mislead you succeed?" Those who belong to God will surely find if they explore and seek, and the Spirit of God will guide you into truth. In the past, if you were wrong, was it because the Spirit of God didn't guide you? Look at these people's thinking. The Spirit of God guided me, but is it possible that I didn't keep up? I admit that the Spirit of God guided me well, but I didn't keep up, my level was relatively low.

Let's return to this matter. The title is: Jacob's Appearance of Victory. This is quite interesting. In the previous chapter, Jacob's name was changed to Israel. Israel means to prevail in wrestling with God and with man, to compete vigorously. After prevailing in this vigorous competition, how did it end up like this? I can't see any appearance of victory.

Jacob Had No Confusion Within Him

Think about it: if you and I were Jacob, dragging a limping leg, having just wrestled with God and become lame, and then saying to God: "God, my leg is lame. Is this victory?" Victory after becoming lame? Wouldn't you be confused? Many people are filled with confusion, and Christians in this generation live in much confusion. I thank God that I have no confusion within me. I know that this matter has its own explanation.

Jacob dragging a lame leg, is this victory? Yes, this is victory. Who told you to rely on your own legs and stay behind the group? Didn't you want to run? Now you can't run. Jacob had no confusion within him. At that time, he wanted to run, with the others in front and him behind, thinking, "Where there's life, there's hope." That's what Jacob thought. As a result, God completely dismantled his human thinking, and his leg became lame. If you were Jacob, would you be confused? David committed sin, and the sword never departed from his house. Was David confused? No, he wasn't. We often feel that we are right, and then wonder why God does this.

Do you know that in the past few years, I had a very strong will? Saying more would bring tears, but I still have to say it. People say that if 20% of the people in a church attend prayer meetings, the church will be revived. However, for our church, for the past 10 years, 100% of the people have come to church for fasting and prayer on all public holidays, and it still hasn't been revived, just a few stragglers. At that time, I cried out: "God..." I swallowed the next words, I couldn't say them. Why is it like this? I couldn't say it and didn't dare to say it.

Do you know that I now understand a confusing thing: why hasn't there been a revival yet, still just these few stragglers, looking extremely desolate? Sometimes I would pray there, hugging a bench, hoping that the bench would be filled with people, but it never was. However, I wouldn't say: "God, why is it like this?" If I said that, it would be over, and a few more years would come. Swallow the words back! When we were young, it was funny. Our parents would discipline us, and we would cry. Our parents would say: "Don't cry, swallow it back!" Can crying be swallowed back? We tried hard to swallow it back, but couldn't. So I tell you, what was my confusion at that time? It was that even after all this, why wasn't there a revival? Actually, that was the revival, we just had the wrong understanding of revival.

Did Jacob have confusion? Absolutely not! Facing his brother who brought four hundred men, well-trained, much better trained than the 318 soldiers trained by his grandfather Abraham. Riding horses, they could see the dust flying from afar, like in a martial arts novel, similar to the Eastern Depot of the Ming Dynasty riding horses, all highly skilled in martial arts. Jacob said: "God, you said you would bless me, look at my current pathetic state, and look at how prosperous my brother is!" Prosperous? Many people think that is prosperity. Jacob didn't have that thought.

You must have this kind of thought in your heart. Jacob cheated his brother out of his birthright and received his blessing, but look how well his brother lives! Look how big his business is! I, who received the blessing, am still leading the weak and disabled, my family is like this, and my leg is lame. Are you confused? If you are confused, then your spiritual eyes are blind.

A person whose spiritual eyes are blind is confused by many things, unable to do business better than Tencent or Alibaba. There was once a Christian, whose family were also Christians, and the people in the church prayed together for his business, even chanting slogans: "Return to Glory." But it never returned. God's will is not this!

If you saw Esau coming with four hundred soldiers, would you be confused? I'll put a high hat on you, a worldly concept. This high hat says: "The worldly concepts within you have not yet been dismantled." I tell you: if the concepts within you have not been dismantled, how can you have the appearance of victory? You haven't competed vigorously, you have failed in wrestling with God and with man. You have failed in wrestling with God and with man, so there is much confusion, because the concepts within haven't changed.

Is Esau confused? Very confused. Riding a horse from afar, holding a bright silver spear in his hand, with hatred in his heart: "I'll let you cheat me out of my blessing! This time I'll tear you to pieces." But from afar, he saw Jacob taking small bows every five steps, big bows every seven steps, prostrating on the ground seven times in a row, and he was also lame. Esau thought: "Is this what it's like to cheat me out of my blessing?" Looking back at the four hundred soldiers, "Was my blessing cheated away? No!"

He slapped his forehead: "Oh, I got it wrong! What blessing, what birthright, it's all nonsense. What's there to cheat? It's useless. I always thought that stuff could be eaten? Now it seems it still can't be eaten." As a result, he regretted it: "Hey! Why should I kill him? It's too embarrassing to kill a cripple! Even if you went to your uncle Laban's place and learned martial arts, put on bright silver armor, held a bright silver spear in your hand, and rode a red hare horse over, the brothers could still have a fight. But now, Jacob is bowing every three steps, bowing every five steps, prostrating every seven steps, good heavens! He's really banging his head hard! And his leg is lame."

Esau's brain wasn't very good to begin with. God set up a confusing array, resolving a confusion without using a single soldier, resolving a fight instantly, and it was over! God is more powerful than Sun Tzu. Sun Tzu's words are so good: "To subdue the enemy without fighting." How powerful Jacob is! He lives in a heavenly strategic level. Esau came for nothing! Bringing 400 soldiers, mighty and high-spirited, all of them were dumbfounded.

Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob were all people who subdued the enemy without fighting. That's what's called powerful. Not riding a horse, holding a spear, and taking the head of a general on the battlefield as easily as taking something out of a pocket, that's the worst strategy, not a hero. Jacob like this is what's called the appearance of victory. That realm cannot be understood by ordinary people. Why is it that we read it differently from five years ago? Because our realm is different, we have entered a higher realm. Jacob's appearance of victory is like this. He didn't compare how big his business was, he didn't compare how many skilled craftsmen he had, and he didn't compare how many industries and properties he had. He didn't care about that. What he cared about was heavenly glory.

What is "Return to Glory"? Has glory returned? No! But we must see the glory of God, and have heavenly hope in this world. In this world, we must see heavenly glory. Can you understand the Jesus we believe in? Being nailed to the cross, many Israelites were confused: "Is this the Son of God? If you are the Son of God, then fly down from the cross! Going up when you say go up, coming down when you say come down, is this a magic trick?" That's not what people do. If everyone is still confused, then you have read it, but you haven't understood it. The reason is simple, your realm is still living in a worldly logical system.

You cannot understand Abraham, you cannot do what Abraham did; you cannot understand Isaac, you cannot do what Isaac did; you cannot understand Jacob, you cannot do what Jacob did. Jacob is amazing! Many years ago, we hoped to see the glory of God, now we have seen a lot! But there is even more glory of God, beyond our requests and thoughts. In my hope, I want to see the glory of God fill the whole earth.

Walking at the Head of the Group

Jacob walked at the head of the group. So what if he was lame? There was no fear or worry within me. Let death come. Even if I die, God will resurrect me from the dead and obtain this promised land, because God once promised me that my descendants would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. See that? Jacob walked at the head of the group, limping, without confusion in his heart, having seen through life and death, not caring about matters of life and death.

Brothers and sisters, be brave and stand at the head of the group. Do the work of herding cattle and sheep meticulously, be faithful in the affairs of others with all your heart and strength, and God will give him what belongs to him. Jacob thought: "Now that I have God's blessing, God has given me the name Israel, I have prevailed in wrestling with God and with man, I must prevail in competing with myself, I must prevail in competing with my brother, I must prevail in competing with God, I must obtain God's glory and God's blessing. God is with me, let death come!" Jacob walked at the head of the group, and miraculous things happened. There is nothing that God cannot change. His brother got off his horse and embraced him, and the two cried.

I often like to relate to myself. A leader must have responsibility! I have trained many small pastors and big pastors to share the burden of this ministry with me. One thing I can boast about is that I absolutely stand at the head of the group. If there is any pastoral care that we can't handle, hand it over to me. If there is any service that we can't handle, hand it over to me. I will absolutely rush to the front. I thank God! This is called the appearance of victory. I would never say: "Oh, exorcism! How much of a price do we have to pay? You come, rush up! Teacher, where are you going?" "I'm going to the back." Is that okay? No, that's not called victory. Remember: victorious generals all lead victorious soldiers. Paying the price is like this, absolutely rushing to the front. It didn't start just now, it started a long time ago.

Jacob Bowed Down to the Ground Seven Times

Jacob bowed down to the ground seven times before approaching his brother. One time, two times, three times, four times, five times, six times, seven times, his brother approached from afar.

And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. (Genesis 33:3)

Is that called victory? How can you bow down to your brother? Your brother should bow down to you. You may not understand, bowing down seven times before approaching Esau, that's called victory. If you don't even have the courage to bow down to the ground, you can't talk about victory at all. Victory in Jesus Christ is like this, Jacob's victory is like this.

I tell you, some Christians have gotten it all wrong, marching in the streets, competing vigorously with the government, patting their chests and saying to Esau: "Come and stab here, I am invulnerable." As a result, when they are stabbed, they bleed, still a body of flesh and blood. What invulnerability, "He who is in me is greater than he who is in the world" is all bragging. Is that really great? It's just learning a superficial skill, not learning Jacob's inner strength. Everyone must know that being able to bow down to the ground seven times, that's called strength. Some people say: "That's not called strength, that's called being embarrassing." I don't want to be embarrassing, and I don't want to bow down, I don't want to call him Lord, I just want to fight him head-on. "Look, I have learned a body of martial arts, if it weren't for my lame leg, I would definitely kill you from your horse." What is this? Is this called a Christian? We must cultivate the habit of not being combative, cultivate the habit of trusting in God.

Everyone must know that those who take up the sword will be killed by the sword. Don't take up the sword. Those who live by the sword are cursed. Can't God handle an Esau? Let's assume, if Esau raised his spear and stabbed Jacob, what would happen? Jacob was lying on the ground, Esau was riding on a horse, Esau didn't get off his horse to embrace Jacob and cry, but raised his knife and stabbed, saying: "I'll let you cheat me." What would happen? As soon as he raised the spear, his hand would wither, and if he raised it again, there would be trouble. Can't God handle it? He can handle it. So brothers and sisters, don't avenge yourselves, and don't argue for yourselves, cultivate a character like Jacob, begin to win, rely on God.

The Whole Family Bowed Down to Esau

Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and bowed themselves. And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves. And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord. (Genesis 33:6-8)

After Jacob and Esau embraced and cried, Esau asked who these people were. Look how well Jacob speaks!

And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant. (Genesis 33:5)

Jacob said: "I am your servant." How did Jacob become a servant? Jacob said: "These children are what God has graciously given to your servant." Esau asked again: "What is the meaning of this flock of sheep and cattle?" Jacob said: "These are to find grace in the sight of my lord." See, Jacob calls Esau his lord, amazing! Jacob is too amazing. It really fulfills the ancient Chinese saying, "A great man can bend and stretch, can cook in the kitchen, and can be in the hall." Amazing! That's called victory. Unlike some Christians who become arrogant as soon as they learn something, they haven't learned anything, they just learned to be arrogant, and they think they have already won, and they will definitely go to heaven when they die. That floating! Taking themselves too seriously, their minds are full of themselves.

Can brothers and sisters soften? Is saying he is your lord really making him your lord? I tell you, don't get it wrong, in the spiritual world, Esau's existence is because of Jacob, not for Esau. Esau's existence is for Jacob, just existing to set off Jacob in the long river of history, so that Jacob is highlighted, that's called victory. It's not bringing four hundred soldiers, mighty and high-spirited, that's called victory, and it's not Jacob bowing down to Esau that makes Esau the lord, and it's not Jacob having his whole family bow down to Esau that makes Esau really his lord; it's that Esau has become a foil, playing a supporting role.

Do you know what running a supporting role is? Like filming a movie, filming a horse-riding scene, now in order to reduce costs, what kind of horse do they ride? They just put a whole trolley on it and stand on it, pulling a rope to ride. Later, they didn't even use a trolley, a group of people held branches and ran, the person didn't move at all, and when it was filmed, it looked like they were riding a horse. Esau is like the person holding a branch and running desperately, Jacob is the one riding the horse and acting, that's the main character. The one carrying the branch can't even show his face, just running a supporting role. But when the one riding the horse pulls the reins, the people below have to run forward desperately, just for a meal.

Calling Esau "Lord"

Esau said, “What do you mean by all these droves I met?” “To find favor in your eyes, my lord,” he said. (Genesis 33:8)

These words immediately bamboozled Esau. He was a fool, you see. I tell you, those who crave empty fame are all like this, easily bewildered. Jacob calls me "lord," making me the master of my brother. All that talk about him stealing my blessing is nonsense. But in the spiritual realm, Jacob is a victor. He calls Esau "lord" because he knows how to speak.

Brothers and sisters, we must also learn to speak properly! Don't just blunder about. One of our pastors received a new person and immediately started arguing with them, saying, "How can I pastor someone like you?" He hadn't even started pastoring yet, mind you. Later, I heard about it and took it as a joke. I said, "What kind of talk is that! How you pastor is your business, and they didn't even ask you to pastor them! You've already made yourself the lord, and they haven't even acknowledged you as such!" So it became a joke. If you interact with me, you'll find that I know how to speak, because I learned from Jacob, Esau, and Abraham.

How can you be a victor if you don't know how to speak? If you can't speak, and Esau comes along, you might say, "You must call me lord, because I am the firstborn, I am your lord." I tell you, even if Esau puts down his gun, he'll immediately pull out a dagger and point it at you, asking, "What do you want?" Isn't that just stirring up trouble? A troublemaker! Even someone like Jacob couldn't withstand a beating! Spiritual people really can't take a beating, because they don't have time to practice boxing.

Once, a sister was being subjected to domestic violence, and her husband was kicking at the door outside. I thought about it and decided to call the police first, and then show up after the police arrived. Otherwise, if the police didn't come and I went first, I'd get beaten along with her. My small frame can't take a beating either! He's a boxer, and I can't beat him. If you commit domestic violence, I'll call the police to handle it. My small self can't take a beating, but I won't kick either.

One day, I picked up someone and took them to eat Singapore's especially delicious frog porridge. When we got there, parking was difficult, so I let them off first to order the frog porridge. I went to find a parking space, and after parking, I rushed over, and bumped into someone. I looked up and thought, "My Lord!" His head was full of scars and bleeding. He was covered in scars, which was quite frightening. I thought I was in trouble this time. His head was covered in crisscrossing cuts and stitches, with blood seeping out. This guy was formidable! My head is worth more than his, so I quickly apologized and bowed: "My Lord, I just want to protect my head." Because I know how to speak, I called him "Big Brother" or even "Grandpa," and finally escaped. I quickly went back to find the person I was hosting and ate frog porridge.

Does calling someone "lord" make them lord? I tell you, this is called victory. A person should be able to bend and stretch, and not care about such things. Jacob doesn't care who he calls "lord" or not. He just says whatever sounds good. Have you learned it? Yes, you have. Don't become stubborn. If someone asks, "What are you looking at?" and you say, "What if I am looking at you?" you'll get a beating. That's called being a stubborn fool.

Sending Lavish Gifts to Esau

The gifts Jacob sent were not ordinary. If you calculate it based on rural income: if you have twenty cows, twenty camels, and two hundred sheep, how much is that worth? It could be the equivalent of ten or twenty people's annual salaries, adding up to over a million. It's worth a lot of money; we can't even calculate it. This is a lavish gift, over a million dollars, sent to his brother.

That night Jacob slept there. And from what he had with him he took a present for his brother Esau, 200 female goats and 20 male goats, 200 ewes and 20 rams, 30 milking camels and their colts, 40 cows and 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys and 10 male donkeys. (Genesis 32:13-15)

Do you think Esau was refusing? Actually, he was overjoyed. Is that called victory? Sending his brother lavish gifts is called victory. Jacob knew in his heart that his Heavenly Father had plenty of money, and this little bit was nothing. Brothers and sisters, do you know how Jacob viewed money? How do you view money? When I lead you in Bible study, do you find the key points? In the past, we talked about victory, but we said that God made Jacob victorious, and God changed Esau's heart. But we must know that the key point is that victory is like this.

A stingy person cannot be victorious; you must be generous. Are many people stingy with others but generous with themselves? Yes. Are many people stingy with others? Yes. There was a time when I was very struggling, because I had donated all the money in my account above four figures, leaving only a few hundred dollars. How could I live on a few hundred dollars? As a result, a large group of people came to me, up to thirty people at a time. I treated them to meals. Did I become poor? No.

I thank God that He gave me Jacob's victorious mentality. I eat noodles that cost nine dollars a bowl, which you probably can't buy anymore. Sometimes when I eat in Singapore, I eat things that cost three or four dollars. I really don't spend much money; I am a very frugal person, but I am never stingy when it comes to hosting people. So you must know that Jacob sent lavish gifts to Esau, which requires a wealthy mindset.

The God Who Makes People Victorious

There he erected an altar and called it El Elohe Israel. (Genesis 33:20)

What is the God of Israel? It is the God who makes people victorious. My God is mighty. If I rely on You throughout my life, I will lack nothing. If I rely on You, I can be victorious in any situation, because You are the God who makes people victorious. I once struggled with myself, and then You made me victorious. I once struggled with You, and You made me rush forward, even though I was afraid at first. Finally, I surrendered before God, and God became my strength. I ran to the front of the line and began to have the appearance of victory. I bowed down to the ground, and my brother was instantly changed by God.

At this time, you can snap your fingers. God let me know what victory is. God is the God who makes me victorious. I trust in Him throughout my life and will lack nothing. My eyes must be fixed on the God who makes me victorious. Thank God, when I talk about these things, I feel especially moved. God is the God who makes me victorious, and He has repeatedly confirmed that God is a good God. The God of Israel is victorious in wrestling with both people and God, the God who makes me victorious. By the strength God gives me, I am victorious, and I gain God's presence and God's blessing. God's blessing can instantly change the thoughts and intentions of enemies. The God who makes people victorious is deeply engraved in my heart.

Over the past years, step by step, I have come to know the God who makes people victorious, El Elohe Israel. There has never been a time when I was not victorious. I thank God for recording these words in the Bible. This world exists for the victorious people, and everything exists for people like Israel. Although we call them "lord," send them lavish gifts, and bow down before them, in the spiritual realm, it is a kind of victory, and the angels in heaven will cheer for us. Do you want to have this kind of character? Start learning. Do you want to have the character of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? Start emulating them.

I know that no one doesn't struggle; everyone struggles like me. The tears we shed could fill several bottles of mineral water. But it doesn't matter; I know that in the end, my God will give me a crown of glory. All the struggles are for the sake of victory. I thank God that many times we are confused: Esau didn't serve Jacob, the elder didn't serve the younger, didn't pour tea and water for him, didn't call him "lord," and didn't become a servant in Jacob's house. Do you understand now? Esau exists for the sake of God's people.

Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will proceed at my leisure, according to the pace of the livestock that are ahead of me and according to the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir. (Genesis 33:14)

Esau went to Mount Seir, and Jacob casually said, "Let my lord go ahead, and I will slowly drive these livestock and my family, and then go to Mount Seir to see my lord." Did he go? Why would he go? He wouldn't go there for no reason. Who knows when Esau might become confused again? That was just talk. Was he victorious? Yes, he was. How can you say that? Why can't you say that? It doesn't matter how you say these things; what matters is that we have a heart that relies on God. A heart that relies on God is not arrogant, patting our chests, as if we are invulnerable. A heart that relies on God is like Jacob's. If you can receive it, then receive it and emulate it.

May God bless everyone!

Genesis Chapter 33

33:1 Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants.
33:2 And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all.
33:3 He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
33:4 But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
33:5 And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.”
33:6 Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down.
33:7 Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down. And last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down.
33:8 Esau said, “What do you mean by all these droves I met?” “To find favor in your eyes, my lord,” he said.
33:9 But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.”
33:10 Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me.
33:11 Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Thus he urged him, and he took it.
33:12 Then Esau said, “Let us journey on our way, and I will go ahead of you.”
33:13 Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and that the flocks and herds with their young are nursing. If they are driven hard for one day, all the flocks will die.
33:14 Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will proceed at my leisure, according to the pace of the livestock that are ahead of me and according to the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.”
33:15 So Esau said, “Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.”
33:16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.
33:17 But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
33:18 And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city.
33:19 And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, he bought for a hundred pieces of money the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent.
33:20 There he erected an altar and called it El Elohe Israel.