Genesis 33:4–11 (ESV)
Jacob Meets Esau
4 But
Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. 5 And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob
said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” 6 Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down. 7 Leah
likewise and her children drew near and bowed down. And last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down. 8 Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company that I met?” Jacob answered, “To
find favor in the sight of my lord.” 9 But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” 10 Jacob said, “No,
please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me. 11 Please accept my blessing that
is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” Thus he urged him, and he took it.
Here comes your brother
with 400 men behind him… and the last time you saw him, he wanted to kill you. But wait! Esau runs up to meet Jacob! He wants to know who are all these people and he gets to meet Jacob’s family. A family reunion on the
road. Jacob has offered all these gifts, but Esau says “What do you mean by all this company that I met?” Jacob tells him to “find favor”. Esau tells him “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.”
Esau finally goes ahead and accepts the offering from his brother. I know that there are times I run into people who have not spoken to their family members for a long time. I remind them that as Christians, we are about forgiveness! They
often say “well, they haven’t called me.” Sometimes, we have to swallow our pride and take the first step to reconciling our differences. Do it with a loving heart. Take a step and be reconciled!
I pray: O Lord, help me to be a peacemaker and a reconciler, and to give thanks that You have reconciled me into your heavenly kingdom. Amen.