Genesis 33: Reconciliation

Key Verse
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.
 
Meditation
Some of the greatest pain I see in the Church is downstream from unreconciled relationships. The prideful rejection of the gospel invitation for relational reconciliation must be remedied. 
 
In Christ, believers have been reconciled with God and made ministers of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18). Jesus commands believers to to reconcile with one another (Matthew 5:23-24) urgently and teaches that forgiveness must flow where repentance is present (Luke 17:3). Through the cross, Jesus has broken down the wall of hostility between His people (Ephesians 2:16). The gospel creates a reconciling community.
 
Today’s reading displays this gospel pattern in seed form. Jacob’s pursuit of Esau is evidence of the peace he received after wrestling with God. Though geographically unnecessary, Jacob’s path through Esau’s territory was spiritually essential. Two decades earlier, he had fled after stealing Esau’s birthright and blessing. Now he walks by faith to seek peace.
 
Reconciliation requires humility and risk. Facing 400 men (v. 1), Jacob moves forward according to the script he had schemed, bowing seven times when he eventually comes before his brother. Jacob offers Esau a “blessing,” making symbolic reparation for what he once took (v. 11). Esau’s embrace and reception of the gift, without the offer of repayment, reveal gracious forgiveness.
 
In this exchange, the greater reality shines. Jesus gave His life as payment for the wrongs we incurred against Him. We are reconciled to God not by repayment but by receiving His gift through faith alone. Therefore, those reconciled to God by grace must pursue reconciliation with others. 

Peace with God propels peace with people.

Today’s Reading
And Jacob lifted up 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 female servants. 2 And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. 3 He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. 
 
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. 
 
12 Then Esau said, “Let us journey on our way, and I will go ahead of you.” 13 But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and that the nursing flocks and herds are a care to me. If they are driven hard for one day, all the flocks will die. 14 Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will lead on slowly, at the pace of the livestock that are ahead of me and at the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.” 
 
15 So Esau said, “Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” 16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17 But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth. 
 
18 And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city. 19 And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, he bought for a hundred pieces of money the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent. 20 There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel. 
 
Richly Dwelling
-What stands out to you from today’s reading, especially a detail from Jacob’s reconciliation with Esau?
 
-What makes the prospect of reconciliation in a relationship difficult for you to consider? 
 
-How does the reconciling work of Christ compel you to cultivate a culture of reconciliation with others? Who is on your heart you need to begin to move towards reconciliation with today?
 
Key Verse
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.