Homilies on Genesis 46–67

Homily 60

HOMILY 60 ''After building an altar he called the place Baithel: for it was there God had appeared to him as he was fleeing from the presence ofhis brother Esau."l OME NOW, [520] today too, if you don't mind, let us pick up the theme of our words of the day before yesterday , and thus once more propose to you the instruction from the sequel. Even yesterday as well, in fact, Jacob's story was sufficient to provide us with instruction about God's intense care for him and the way he encouraged him further with his own promises by way of reward for his sound attitude. When in the preceding part, you recall, it had narrated to us how he had in accord with God's command left Shekim on account of what had been done by his sons and had made for Luza, it went on, '?\fter building an altar he called the place Baithel: for it was there God had appeared to him as he was fleeing from the presence of his brother Esau:' He gave him this command and relieved him of the fear that beset him with the slaughter of the Shekimites, and then instilled such fear into the inhabitants of those cities (the text says) that they did not pursue him. (2) See God's providence and the degree of care he shows for Jacob. He struck the souls of the inhabitants of those cities, the text says, with such fear that they did not pursue him, intent though they were on avenging the Shekimites. Since, however, the events had gone contrary to the good man's wishes, namely, the vengeance taken by the men in the company of Symeon and Levi for their sister's virtue, he not only released him and his sons from the turmoil of their fear but also instilled 1. Cen 35.7. 177 178 ST. JOHN CHRYSOSTOM dread into the others and made them desist from their aggression . Do you see how far it is possible to enjoy grace from on high? You see, whenever he is kindly disposed to us, all our troubles disappear. I mean,just as he instilled confidence into the good man, so he drove fear into the others. Being Lord, after all, he adapts himself to the various circumstances, and in every instance gives evidence of his creative wisdom. Nothing could ever be more powerful than the person who has won help from above, and, conversely, nothing is weaker than the person deprived of it. (3) See at any rate this good man, virtually isolated and with very few companions though he was, taking heart when protected by God's right hand, and taking courage and escaping subterfuge, whereas those others, though massed in vast numbers and displaying concert of purpose, were yet unable to put into effect any of their schemes. "Fear of God fell on the cities round about;' the text says, remember. So now that the good man was freed from fear and from the local inhabitants, see once again the extraordinary degree of the loving kindness God showed in his regard: [521] "God appeared to him;' the text says, "while he was still in Louza."2 Why is there the addition of the word "still"? Not without purpose: it was for you to learn that he had already appeared to him previously in this place when he fled from his brother and set his face for Mesopotamia. So it now says, As he appeared to him then on his departure, so now he also reveals himself to him in the same place on the return journey and confirms the promises he had made him at his departure, leading the good man to trust in his pledge and not to waver because of the lapse of time. (4) "He blessed him and said to him, 'No longer will you be called Jacob; instead, Israel shall be your name:"3 Actually, he had already conferred this name on him when he made the crossing of the Jaboch;4 but, in his wish to communicate to the 2. Gen 35.9· 3· Gen 35.9- 10. 4. Gen 32.28. Chrysostom, of course, cannot point to diversity of sources to explain the recurrence, so-as with the two creation accounts-he presumes in the composer or the divine speaker the wish to impress by repetition. HOMILY 60 179...