"I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land." Genesis 28:15a
When Jacob fled from his brother Esau, God made a promise to guard him and bring him back to his home. God kept that promise. Jacob and his family had started back to the land of Canaan, and Genesis 32:1 tells us, "Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him." God has also promised never to leave us nor forsake us but to be with us and watch over us wherever we go as well, and we can believe and count on His promise as Jacob did.
Jacob had left home because his brother Esau was so angry with him that he threatened to kill him. There had been no communication between the brothers all the years that Jacob had been gone, and Jacob didn't know if Esau was still angry. Jacob wanted his brother's forgiveness, and he sent gifts of livestock to Esau by way of making amends for deceiving him. When we have wronged someone, we need to express one of the hardest things for us to say in the English language, "I'm sorry." When Jacob approached his brother, he bowed down seven times before Esau to show how sorry he was.
The next scene in the story depicts a beautiful picture of forgiveness and reconciliation. Genesis 33:4 says, "But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept." Is there anyone with whom you need to be reconciled? Do you, like Jacob, need to show that you are sorry for doing something you shouldn't have done? Or do you, like Esau, need to forgive someone who has wronged you? Forgiveness is one of the greatest gifts you can give another person--and yourself.
No comments:
Post a Comment