Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau was coming, and with him four hundred men. He divided the children between Leah, Rachel, and the two servants. He put the servants and their children in front, Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear. He himself passed over in front of them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, fell on his neck, kissed him, and they wept. He lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, “Who are these with you?”
He said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” Then the servants came near with their children, and they bowed themselves. Leah also and her children came near, and bowed themselves. After them, Joseph came near with Rachel, and they bowed themselves.
Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?”
Jacob said, “To find favor in the sight of my Lord.”
Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; let that which you have be yours.” Jacob said, “Please, no, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present at my hand, because I have seen your face, as one sees the face of God, and you were pleased with me. Please take the gift that I brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” He urged him, and he took it.
Genesis 33:1-11
What a dramatic moment! The Jacob that Esau remembered was the old deceiver who had cheated him of his inheritance, and his father's final blessing. Esau probably didn't know Jacob had changed in the years with Laban.
And yet, Esau was ready to extend forgiveness. Perhaps it helped Esau that in the end, he got back all the inheritance as Jacob ran away. Perhaps Jacob's gifts helped. But in any case, Esau did the godly thing and extended grace and forgiveness to Jacob in spite of the past hurts.
Is there someone you are upset with and continue to nurse a grudge? A grudge is like poisoning yourself and hoping it'll hurt the other person. God calls us to be a forgiving people, as He is a forgiving God.
Father, thank You for Your forgiveness. "Forgive us our sins, even as we forgive those who sin against us," Jesus taught us to pray. Sometimes this can be hard to do, so help me to quickly see things Your way when I'm hurt and forgive. In Jesus' name, amen.
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