The last time Jacob saw his brother Esau he had deceived him of his birthright and his blessing. I could only imagine the fear Jacob had when Esau came towards him with four hundred others. Jacob knew he had done this and offered some of his blessings that God had blessed him with to find favor from his brother. Esau tells him that he doesn’t need Jacob’s offerings because he has enough but Jacob kept insisting until Esau accepted his gifts to him. This is a true picture of reconciliation and is necessary for every heart. If we have wronged someone or deceived someone it should always lead to reconciliation in the end. Jacob had everything he needed and wanted. He could have kept his pride and found somewhere else to go with all of his possessions and live in peace but he chose to follow God’s direction. I could bet my whole paycheck that the last thing Jacob wanted to do was face his brother Esau. Esau was bigger, stronger, and had every right to seek vengeance against Jacob. Jacob knew this and went anyway. We must never let our past or any tension between us and others keep us from following God’s will. This happens a lot to me personally and I know it happens to a lot of others as well. If you have wronged someone or have been wronged by someone, true reconciliation needs to happen before you can move forward. That fear or hate that we hold towards someone is just another of the many ways Satan uses to separate us from God. If you have anyone in your life that occupies your mind and heart in this way it is imperative you seek to reconcile with them. They might just be the one that Satan does not want you to have a relationship with because God will use it. Love y’all! Have a great day!
Genesis 33:1-20
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“Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming toward him with four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two slave women. He put the slaves and their children first, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. He himself went on ahead and bowed to the ground seven times until he approached his brother. But Esau ran to meet him, hugged him, threw his arms around him, and kissed him. Then they wept. When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he asked, “Who are these with you? ” He answered, “The children God has graciously given your servant.” Then the slaves and their children approached him and bowed down. Leah and her children also approached and bowed down, and then Joseph and Rachel approached and bowed down. So Esau said, “What do you mean by this whole procession I met? ” “To find favor with you, my Lord,” he answered. “I have enough, my brother,” Esau replied. “Keep what you have.” But Jacob said, “No, please! If I have found favor with you, take this gift from me. For indeed, I have seen your face, and it is like seeing God’s face, since you have accepted me. Please take my present that was brought to you, because God has been gracious to me and I have everything I need.” So Jacob urged him until he accepted. Then Esau said, “Let’s move on, and I’ll go ahead of you.” Jacob replied, “My Lord knows that the children are weak, and I have nursing flocks and herds. If they are driven hard for one day, the whole herd will die. Let my Lord go ahead of his servant. I will continue on slowly, at a pace suited to the livestock and the children, until I come to my Lord at Seir.” Esau said, “Let me leave some of my people with you.” But he replied, “Why do that? Please indulge me, my Lord.” That day Esau started on his way back to Seir, but Jacob went to Succoth. He built a house for himself and shelters for his livestock; that is why the place was called Succoth. , After Jacob came from Paddan-aram, he arrived safely at Shechem in the land of Canaan and camped in front of the city. He purchased a section of the field where he had pitched his tent from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for a hundred pieces of silver. , And he set up an altar there and called it God, the God of Israel.”
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