Reconciliation
Esau and Jacob
The hardest thing in life is to forgive others. C.S. Lewis profoundly said, “To be a Christian means to forgive the inexcusable because God has forgiven the inexcusable in us”. The truth is we must forgive. It is true that God has forgiven the inexcusable in us and therefore we have no choice but to forgive others and reflect the mercy of God.
I met this man who had not spoken to his daughter for a long time. I asked him, “How long is this going to go on for. Are you going to take this grudge to the grave with you?” “Yes, if I have to”, he replied.
Two months later, he was dead he took his grudge to the grave with him. That was very sad. It takes humility to resolve issues in relationships. It is easy to blame each other. It is best to resolve issues in relationships in this life. There are relatives who have not spoken to each other for years. I have heard people say, “I will not speak to that person ever again.”
Let’s look at the story of Esau and Jacob who were brothers. They had not spoken to each other for years. Esau was furious because Jacob had stolen his birth right and his blessing. Esau hated Jacob and vowed to kill him. There was a lot of anger and hatred in their relationship.
Jacob sent a messenger ahead to his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom with the message “You are to say to lord Esau: Your servant Jacob says I am coming to meet you with gifts of cattle, donkeys, sheep and goats, male and female servants so that I might find favor in your sight.”
The messenger returned and reported to Jacob, “We went to your brother Esau, he is coming to meet you with four hundred men.” Jacob became very fearful and divided his wives and his people into a group of two so that if Esau attacked one group the other group could escape. Jacob in his desperation prayed to God, “Save me, I pray from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me.”
Jacob saw Esau coming with four hundred men. He led the way and as he approached his brother. He bowed down to his brother seven times, honoring him.
But Esau ran up and embraced him and held him tight and kissed him. Esau looked around and saw the women and the children and he asked, “Who are these women and children?”
“These are my wives and children God has blessed me with,” replied Jacob. Jacob’s wives and children came and bowed down before Esau.
Esau then asked “What is the meaning of this herd and everything?” “My lord these are my gifts to you. God has blessed me please accept them?,“ replied Jacob. But Esau replied, “I have enough Please keep them for yourselves.” Jacob insisted but Esau received them gratefully.
We can all learn from the story of Jacob and Esau. There is a lot of anger and unforgiveness in relationships today. Humility is the key to reconciliation and forgiveness. The embrace between Jacob and Esau reminds me of the story of the prodigal son. The embrace the father gave the son when he came back home was one of welcome.
This is a great story of love and reconciliation. Jacob had certainly been changed by God over the years. He had become a humble man who God was prepared to use. Jacob was known as a “deceiver” because he had deceived his brother Esau of his birth rights. The grace of God is available for everyone.
This world needs forgiveness and reconciliation more that it needs anything else. Without forgiveness and mercy this world has no future. In the words of A.W. Tozer, “God is Mercy.” Tozer explains,” God does not have mercy, he is mercy.” Jesus also said, “Blessed are the merciful for they will obtain mercy from God.” When we give mercy to others we receive mercy from God. ( The story of Jacob and Esau is found in Genesis 32).
Dear God
Thank you for your mercy towards me.
Help me now to show the same mercy to others.
Amen
By harbajan (servant of Jesus)
14/03/2025