Two Decades of Fear
Steel Sharpener
Some of you purchased the “Story” or received it for Christmas. It is the NIV arranged in a particular way so that you can read the great “story” of salvation in just 31 chapters and this affords you the opportunity to get the big picture of God’s story. My goal is to read a chapter a day and get through the whole story in a month and a couple of days give or take.
Last night I was struck by these words from Jacob to his brother Esau.
“For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably.”
These are truly amazing words for an incredibly amazing situation. You may recall that Jacob in conjunction with his mother stole Esau’s birthright from his dying father. This led to Esau being robbed of future material blessings as the oldest son of Isaac. Upon this realization Esau was enraged at Jacob and Jacob fled in fear of his brother.
Now, two plus decades later Jacob returns to his homeland. He has sent over 500 assortments of livestock in the hopes to soften his brother. Yes, two plus decades later and Jacob is still concerned that Esau might kill him upon his return. Yet when Esau sees Jacob coming, “Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.” Then moments later Jacob says the words we read above in bold.
Forgiveness and grace triumphs and two estranged brothers become familiar friends again. God’s grace expressed always wins over anger and resentment. The love of Jesus is truly undefeated when expressed authentically.
