DYNAMIS!
A publication of St. George Orthodox Christian Cathedral
Wichita, KS
Genesis 32:1-10
(01/15)
Eighth Reading at the Vigil of the Feast of Theophany
Types of Baptism ~ Guilt and Grace: Genesis 32:1-10,
especially vs. 5: “I have
sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in your sight.” At
one time or another, those who mature and prosper in the Faith report
experiences similar to that which the Patriarch Jacob tasted at God’s
encampment (vs. 3): personal guilt and fear, the presence of God, and the
miracle of God’s grace. This
is true especially for those who come late to the Life in Christ hungry to
embrace the spiritual realities of the Mystery of Christ in Baptism, Chrismation, and Communion.
However, many Orthodox Christians do not associate Baptism
with a transforming experience, having received the Christian Mystery in
infancy. Nevertheless, these may
discover the blessings described in this account of Jacob following a grievous
sin against a best friend, a loved one, their family, or community, when God
prompts them to seek a Priest and beg of “...the righteous and
compassionate Judge remission of sins and grace to sin no more.” For God would not leave us in the grip
of despair for our sins. Any may
taste God’s presence, be convicted of sin, and meet Him - merciful,
forgiving, and gracious - in Confession.
Consider Jacob: his life and experience serve as a type of
Confession - this wonderful second Baptism. Born the younger of twins, Jacob
connived against his brother in a moment of Esau’s weakness and fatigue
to take his birthright (Gen. 25:29-34).
Later, by plain deception, he also stole his brother’s rightful
blessing (Gen. 27:1-40). Scripture
reports that as a result of these sins, Esau “...hated Jacob because of
the blessing with which his father blessed him, and Esau said in his mind,
‘Let the days of mourning for my father draw near, then I will kill my
brother Jacob’” (Gen. 27:41).
Jacob knew too well what he had done and the potential of his
brother’s wrath, so he fled for his life, far away to
Jacob spent years in virtual servitude under his uncle far
off in the east, yet, by the mercy of God, he prospered despite Laban’s efforts to take advantage of his youth and
energy. Finally, as the
relationship between Jacob and Laban’s family
deteriorated because of jealousy, God prompted Jacob to gather up his wives,
his entire household, and his flocks and to return to
However, as “...Jacob went on his way [he] saw the
hosts of God encamped” (Gen. 32:1).
With the threat of deadly confrontation before him, Jacob met the hosts
of the Lord. See what is required
for God to break through to our hearts and minds: remorse, fear, and guilt can
motivate us, as can shame. But the
knowledge of God’s promises can create another expectation (Gen.
28:10-17). Plainly, meeting God
Himself is a momentous, if inexplicable, mystery, which is why we identify
Baptism, Chrismation, and Confession as Holy
Mysteries.
The presence of the living God on the one hand and the
potential threat of Esau on the other hand, focused Jacob’s awareness on
his sin and danger. So, he made
frenzied attempts to manage the coming confrontation (Gen. 32:3-8). Often, when God confronts us, our first
awareness is guilt, of the wrongs between us and our brother. We struggle to solve the guilt.
But frenetic action did not work for Jacob, nor will it for
us! Jacob embraced the grace of
God, “...all the righteousness and all the truth You
have shown Your servant...” (vs. 10). So he pled for and received God’s
grace. Wondrously, his brother even
embraced him! (Gn. 33:3-11).
O Lord, we pray for Thy mercy, life, peace, health,
salvation, and visitation, according to the multitude of Thy great and rich
compassions upon us.
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