Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough (All things). And he urged him, and he took it [Gen. 33:11].
In this chapter we have the meeting between Esau and Jacob. They had been separated for twenty years due to Esau's threat to kill Jacob (Gen.27:41). When Jacob came back home he sent a large herd of livestock as a present unto Esau to appease his anger (Gen. 32:13-15). At first, Esau, in his pride rejected Jacob's present and said he had enough or that he had much, "I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself" (Gen. 33:9). Later, at the urging of Jacob, Esau received the gift and they were reconciled as brothers again. On the surface this is a most interesting story, however there is an excellent gospel principle given to us here.
Esau's standing before God was one of condemnation (Rom. 9:1-13; Heb. 12:16-17), having so much cattle and material things, yet without Christ and without hope (Eph. 2:12). Esau was content and was not concerned about his spiritual state before God. Alarming place to be, without Christ, yet content "I have enough" yet having no righteousness to satisfy God (Rom. 10:1-4 ), no sufficient atonement for sin (Heb.10:12-17).
Many people like Esau, are insistent they have adequate works (religious) or sufficient merit (righteousness) to meet God's high standard of holy justice (Luke 16:15; Rom. 3:23). They are most confident they need not the righteousness of Christ to justify (Rom. 4:6-8) or His atonement for their sin to be accepted of God (Heb. 1:3; 2:17). How sad to hear people say, "I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing;" when God's says, "knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked" (Rev. 3:17).
Esau's enough was much, but Jacob's enough included all things, all spiritual blessings in Christ (Eph. 1:3; 1Cor. 1:30). Notice, that Jacob attributes all he has to the sovereign grace of God, "God hath dealt graciously with me" (Gen. 33:11; 2Tim. 1:9). Every believer can say with Jacob, in Christ we have all things freely given through His grace (Rom. 8:32; 1Cor. 2:12; 1Cor. 15:10;). Someone might ask, "Is the Lord Jesus Christ enough?" If the Lord Jesus Christ is all you have, God says, that is enough (Gen.22:8; Eph.1:6; Col.2: 9-10; 3:11). My friend, never be satisfied or content just having or resting in some religious experience, but rather seek salvation in Whom it is found and rest in the Lord Jesus Christ alone (Matt. 6:33; Acts 4:12; 2Tim. 1:12).
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