We hear a lot about victory these days – victory in Europe in World War 2, the likelihood of victory in Ukraine or of Israel over Hamas and even victory in the football Euros. All victories, of course rely on one or more losers.
When Jacob was preparing to meet his brother Esau (whose inheritance he had stolen) he wrestles a man who loses the match with Jacob. After the encounter Jacob declares that he had seen the face of God – something about this meeting told him that he had met God. The theologian Andrew Bartlett writes:
‘It is possible to prevail with humans – but who fights God and wins? It is only via a totally alternative meaning of God that this is possible. The God whom Israel is in relationship with does not win by violent means, in fact loses.’
As the story develops the totally unexpected happens – instead of attacking Jacob with the 400 men he has with him, Esau runs to meet Jacob and embraces him. Jacob declares ‘to see your face is like seeing the face of God.’ Bartlett comments:
‘There can be no ambiguity – the encounter with Esau awakens the same experience (i.e. meeting God): Esau’s face of love and non-violence is the very face of God.’
So, we follow a God who ‘loses’ in the sense of rejecting all violent solutions and whose Son was rejected by the violence of the world for that very same reason.
Jim Sikorski
Anthony Bartlett Signs of Change: The Bible’s Evolution of Non-Violence
