My hope is that this series will offer my readers a chance to consider the names, characteristics and descriptions of our God in the Word.
The remaining Names of God in this series might be considered descriptors, or characteristics of the Lord. We have reviewed the three primary Names of God, along with nineteen compound Names of God in our previous posts. As we venture through these descriptors of our God, I hope we will recognize all the many characteristics of our God that we tend to take for granted.
The Word is truly rich with descriptions of the Living God, and this effort of searching in the Word was quite illuminating. He truly is the ultimate subject of the Word, and His revelation of self-descriptions, or the accolades offered Him by His priests, prophets, kings apostles and faithful truly is a blessing.
May the Name of the Lord be praised, and by thinking on His name, may you have a blessed day.
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| FACE OF GOD |
| Genesis 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. |
| A little context may help in this passage we are considering today. Jacob ripped his brother Esau off. He connived his birthright from him and stole the blessing from him. Out of these actions, a family was torn apart, with Esau expressing a fury equal to the crimes committed against him. Jacob was going to die at the hand of Esau. Genesis 27:41 Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” Did he not deserve this retribution? Was Jacob not the supplanter, the deceiver, the self seeking conniving little cheat that was a destroyer of a family. Fast forward two decades, with Jacob hearing Esau’s threat of death in his memory, knowing that he had completely wronged his brother, and caused much pain for the family. And a message from God, speaking of Esau coming to meet him with 400 men. 400 men did not bode well in Jacob’s mind, certainly reminding him of this death sentence hanging over his head. Judgement was on it’s way for Jacob and Judgements name was Esau! But Jacob was the ever wiley man, separating his family into camps, hoping some would survive. He truly was a man who lacked courage. But he did know who to call on in times of trouble. In Jacob’s trouble, he called out to God, wrestling with God all night. In the end, Jacob came away a new man, with a new name. Genesis 32:30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” Jacobs life had been delivered, even though he saw the face of God. Prior to encountering Esau, Jacob’s life was on the line before the Lord, and the Lord delivered Jacob from himself. The life changing event of Jacob’s life! Jacob endured the night of struggle and came away a new man. A new man that was about to meet his brother. A brother with thoughts of killing on his mind – or so Jacob thought. Yet Esau initiated the response of love, of embrace, of weeping. Genesis 33:4 But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. Jacob refers to Esau as the face of God. He had just experienced seeing the face of God that night, and he described Esau’s lavish forgiveness, love, care and brokenness as that of the face of God. Esau provides us a witness of what Jacob experienced in that night of wrestling. He was wrestling with One who would be broken for him, that provided forgiveness, undeserved love, mercy and relationship. A clearing of a painful conscience, and a healing of brotherhood. Esau. A man who threatened death upon his own brother, yet looked beyond justice and to his heart. To healing and not to hurting. To love and not lashing out. What a picture of our God, and a description of the Face of God for us to live under. When you think of the Face of God, remember the context of forgiveness, love, weeping and reunion. Jesus is the Face of God! |
I would love to hear of your favorite name, characteristic or description of the Living God. Please leave me a comment, and I will include it in the list!
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