Forgiveness Is Hard
“Then Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two maids. And he put the maids and their children in front, and Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last.
“But he himself passed on ahead of them and bowed down to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.
“And he lifted his eyes and saw the women and the children, and said, ‘Who are these with you?’ So he said, ‘The children whom God has graciously given your servant.’ Then the maids came near with their children, and they bowed down.
“And Leah likewise came near with her children, and they bowed down’ and afterward Joseph came near with Rachel and they bowed down. And he said, ‘What do you mean by all this company which I have met?’ And he said, ‘To find favour in the sight of my Lord.’ But Esau said, ‘I have plenty, my brother; let what you have be your own.’” Genesis 33:1-9
When first reading Genesis 27, I wept and could not imagine how something so tragic could happen! What could God be thinking! I found that I sort of hated Jacob and his mother for robbing Esau of everything with a bowl of stew. It really hit me hard. When you keep reading, however (as God always does with our lives, too) He has taken Jacob’s choices and used it for Jacob’s good.
Although, both brothers went their separate ways, God worked to grow them up into men after His own heart. The lessons were not easy for either brother, especially Esau to bury his hatred, find peace and forgive. Jacob on the other hand demonstrated a pattern of deceit for much of his life and yet God prevailed.
When we meet Jacob in this passage, he is shaking in his boots, because he knows there are consequences still waiting for him. And God surprises Jacob with Esau’s forgiveness. It is one of my favourite stories of God’s grace and love.
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Take care with love, especially His, from Darlene, who still prays for you each day.
PS: You can also find the devotions on line/ on your mobile phone here: www.weakdaydevotion.com .
NOTES: I choose to believe the Bible because it's a reliable collection of historical documents written down by eyewitnesses during the lifetime of other eyewitnesses. They reported supernatural events that took place before, of specific prophecies; and claim that their writings are divine rather than human in origin.
The Five Solas: Individuals are saved by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone, as revealed by Scripture alone to the glory of God alone!
Find my full statement of faith: https://especiallyhislove.blogspot.com (where you will also find a series of Bible studies). For the books, go to Amazon books. For prayer requests/ updates, email: darlenerichard@gmail.com