Genesis records Jacob, the son of Isaac, traveling to the land of Paddan-aram where he lived for some twenty years. While there, he married Leah and Rachel, and tended his father-in-law, Laban’s flocks. Jacob fell out of favor with Laban, and the Lord told Jacob to travel back to the land of his fathers.
One day as they traveled, Jacob sees his brother Esau off in the distance. He sends flocks ahead as a present to Esau in hopes that the peace offering will be met with favor. Esau asks about the gift of the flocks, telling Jacob to keep them as he already has “enough.” Jacob responds, please take them, “because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough” (Gen. 33:4-11).
It would seem both men have “enough.” Interestingly though, the word translated “enough” in these two verses is not he same Hebrew word. Esau’s “enough” is the Hebrew word rab, which means “much.” But Jacob’s “enough” is the Hebrew word kōl, which means “all,” and is a derivative of the word kālal which means perfect.
So why all the fuss you might ask? Enough is enough, right? No! Esau’s enough is “much,” referring to earthly possessions. But, despite his trials and difficulties with Laban, his twenty years of labor, having to flee with his family and flocks back to his home country, and wrestling with God all night, Jacob says he has “all.” Jacob’s “all” includes God! Jacob recognizes that without God, no matter how much or little he has in terms of earthly possessions, it is always enough when it includes God. In fact, it is just perfect!
So the next time someone asks you when enough is enough, tell them enough is never enough, until it includes God. Then it is all!
