Grace and Forgiveness: Genesis 33:1-11

Forgiveness is always easier when we see how God’s hand in our own life makes life greater.  God is gracious to us in many circumstances, allowing us to have what we do not deserve.  Understanding what life feels like under God’s grace makes it easier to extend that grace to others.

Jacob and Esau finally meet.  The confrontation doesn’t unfold as Jacob fears.  Esau comes to him, embraces him, and receives him.  Esau meets Jacob’s family for the first time.

There is a lingering question worth debating.  If Esau was planning on receiving his brother the whole time, why did he bring four hundred men with him?  We cannot know the answer to the question, but there is a relatively straightforward hypothesis.  Esau didn’t know Jacob’s intention.  Therefore, Esau brought men just in cast Jacob decided to make the conflict ugly. 

If this is the case, then Jacob’s barrage of gifts as Esau draws near has the desired effect. Even if Jacob gave away half his herd, which is unlikely, his losses could be replaced in a single good year of breeding.  A genuinely positive meeting with Esau would be worth that price.

When Esau comes before Jacob and gets the introduction to his family, Jacob begins by giving the credit to God.  God was generous to Jacob.  God kept him safe since he and Esau last met.  God is the one who allowed this meeting to go smoothly.  God naturally deserves the credit and praise.

It’s at this point that Esau begins to discuss the waves of gifts Jacob sent.  In traditional fashion for middle eastern negotiations, the presented gift is first declined before it is received.  There is a subtle fact in this sharing that speaks volumes about the mindset of Jacob and Esau and how life matured them.  When Esau declines the gift, he says “I have enough.”  When Jacob extends the offer of the gift again, he also says, “I have enough.”

This gives great contrast to the last time these brothers met.  At the prior meeting, Jacob’s desire to be the more glorious drove him to claim the blessing.  His desire to be the wealthier son caused him to take the birthright.  At the prior meeting, Esau becomes enraged by Jacob’s attempt to usurp him and threatens to kill Jacob.

 In their younger ages, the brothers’ competitiveness and uncertainty for the future caused them to live like there was never enough.  The strife that bore Jacob away was fundamentally rooted in the collection of resources.

Now, they have enough life experience and maturity to know they have enough.  There is no longer any need to compete.  Because their perspective has changed, Esau can forgive Jacob and Jacob can release the need to compete with Esau.  The forgiveness the brothers share is made easier by their growth in maturity about God’s provision in their life.  Forgiveness is always easier when we see how God’s hand in our own life makes life greater.