Read the Word:
Genesis 33:1-17
Meditate on the Word:
Jacob had good reason to fear his twin brother Esau. The last time they had been in the same place, Jacob had tricked their dying father into blessing him instead of Esau. This was after Jacob had taken advantage of Esau’s hunger and sold him some bean soup for his birthright. Esau had been very angry and wanted Jacob dead. But now, twenty years later, because God had told him to go back home, Jacob took his wives, children, and flocks, and went to face his brother.
Of course, Jacob had no way of knowing how his brother would react. But he went anyway, out of obedience. It turned out that Esau had moved on with life, and apparently had forgiven Jacob, even though there had never been an apology for his trickery. Jacob could not have known until this encounter that his brother would not kill him. By the same token, Jacob could not have known that he had been forgiven if he had not returned home.
Too many people spend their whole lives running from their past because it is too painful. They do not want to face what they have done, who they have harmed, the damage left in their wake. But the fear of facing our past often keeps us from knowing forgiveness. Fear of facing our wrongs robs us of restored relationship with others, and with God.
Pray the Word:
Ask our Lord if there is any past failure that needs confessed and dealt with.
Leave a Reply