When we turn to Genesis 33, we encounter the long-awaited meeting between Jacob and Esau — two brothers divided by a stolen blessing, now reunited after years apart.
On the surface, it is a story of family reconciliation. But through Neville Goddard’s teachings, it reveals a psychological truth: the relationship between two aspects within us.
Jacob and Esau: Two 'Men'
In Neville’s symbolic reading:
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Jacob represents the developing imaginative aspect of the self — the inner man who dares to assume new states of being.
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Esau symbolises the psychological self that lives by sense evidence — the part of us convinced by outer facts and appearances.
“Esau is the man of the field — tied to appearances. Jacob is the contemplative, the dreamer, the creator.”
Though Esau appears stronger and elder (sense evidence seems to come first), imagination is truly supreme. The so-called “facts” of life have no power except the power we give them through our attention and belief.
The Fear of Sense Evidence
“Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed...”
— Genesis 32:7
As Jacob approaches Esau, he fears rejection and retaliation.
This mirrors our inner struggle: after assuming a new state — health, abundance, love — we fear that our sense-based self will overpower or sabotage our new conviction.
Jacob’s fear represents the common anxiety that the evidence of the senses will dominate the imaginative claim. Yet, despite this, Jacob presses forward — an act of inner persistence we are all called to embody.
The Embrace: Inner Harmony
“And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.”
— Genesis 33:4
Esau, once perceived as an enemy, runs to Jacob and embraces him.
This is the moment when the sense-based self yields to the imaginative self. When imagination is faithfully sustained, even the psychological aspect that once resisted comes into harmony with the new assumption.
Jacob offers Esau gifts — a symbolic act of pouring gratitude into the newly aligned part of self.
"I Have Seen the Face of God"
“I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.”
— Genesis 33:10
When our sense-based self finally reflects the inner conviction, it feels as though we are seeing the face of God.
In Neville’s teaching, God is our own wonderful human imagination. The outer conditions we once feared become friendly reflections, revealing the divine creative power within.
The Parallel with Saul and David
This inner drama is echoed in the story of Saul and David.
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Saul represents the old psychological state, built on past assumptions and sense-based rulership.
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David symbolises the new inner conviction — the anointed imaginative claim destined to reign.
At first, Saul dominates and tries to destroy David, just as our old beliefs resist the new inner assumption. Yet through unwavering persistence, David ultimately replaces Saul completely.
While Jacob and Esau illustrate reconciliation and harmony within, Saul and David represent conflict and full succession — the new imaginative self taking full dominion.
The Echo in Cain and Abel
The story of Cain and Abel also reveals this same psychological pattern.
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Abel represents the imaginative, feeling self that offers a "living" sacrifice — the state of living in the end and feeling the wish fulfilled.
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Cain symbolises the self that depends on outer effort and sense evidence — striving from the ground, tied to facts and appearances.
“By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain.” — Hebrews 11:4
Cain becomes jealous when Abel’s offering (imaginative faith) is favoured. Symbolically, this describes how our reliance on facts (Cain) suppresses or "kills" the inner feeling of conviction (Abel).
Just as with Esau and Saul, Cain appears dominant at first, but the pattern always points to the triumph of the imaginative self. In each story, the message is clear: imagination is the true creative power, destined to rise above sense-bound thinking.
“And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.”
— Genesis 33:3
Jacob’s seven bows symbolise humility and respect for the psychological process — honouring that every part of the self, even the sense-based part, is worthy of attention and understanding.
Final Reflection
The reconciliation of Jacob and Esau is not merely a touching story of family forgiveness; it is a profound psychological truth:
When imagination is faithfully maintained, every part of the self — even those long ruled by sense evidence — will eventually come into loving harmony and reflect the new inner state with joy.
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