Jacob & Esau’s Reunion Parallels the Prodigal Son’s Reunion with His Father

I’ve heard before that some of the language and imagery used in the prodigal son parable of Luke 15 borrows from the story of Jacob and Esau reuniting, especially Genesis 33. that parallel hit me a new reading the account this time through.

It never occurred to me until this time through, that the source of pain between Jacob and Esau was Jacob taking an inheritance that did not belong to him. In the prodigal son story, the issue also starts over the younger son gaining his father‘s inheritance. But in Luke 15, the prodigal son squandered the inheritance he actually rightfully gained from the father. Even more, remarkably in Luke 15:12, we read that the father, “divided his property between them [the two sons]”. This means that the older brother would have gotten a double portion for his inheritance, and gained it sooner than he expected to get it. Thus, even though there are parallels in Jacob-ESA and the prodigal son, they’re also seem to be clear contrast. The parallels are mainly in how the father graciously receives his prodigal son and how Esau graciously received Jacob:

  • “Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.” Gen 33:4
  • “His father…ran and embraced him and kissed him…” Luke 15:20

Further, just as Jacob plotted how to serve Esau and spare his life, so the younger son plotted how to be a slave to his father and spare his life. But both were graciously met by the one who had a right to be offended by them.

This parallel draws out the contrast very sharply. The older son in the prodigal son story, who I believe represents the Pharisees, etc. of Jesus day had less actual reason to embrace his younger brother than ESAU had, but in reality held a fierce grudge. I might also add that the father goes above and beyond what ESAU did, which might also highlight of God is more gracious than any human human and how he treats us who offend him deeply.

All to say, I was touched by the Lord reading the story of Jacob and Esau this time around.

Joseph’s Story

I believe there are so many wonderful things to draw out of the story of Joseph at the end of Genesis. See https://fmi360.com/2018/09/05/joseph-christ/ for instance.

But this time of reading it, through chapter 40, I was drawn by the sharp contrast/parallel between Joseph and Judah, especially Genesis 38 and 39.

In Genesis 38, Judah‘s sons refuse to share their seed with Tamar for unrighteous reasons. In Genesis 39, Joseph refused to sleep with Potiphar’s wife for righteous reasons. In Genesis 38, Judah is rightly incriminated by his garments and that he slept with Tamar. In Genesis 39, Joseph is wrongly framed by his garments as sleeping with Potiphar‘s wife. And so on.

Of note, Jesus descended from… Drumroll… Judah! That is, the savior of the world came through messed up sinners like Judah and all of us.