Forgiveness

DEVOTION

GENESIS

FORGIVENESS

Gen 33:1-7

33:1 Jacob looked up and there was Esau, coming with his four hundred men; so he divided the children among Leah, Rachel and the two maidservants. 2 He put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear. 3 He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. 4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. 5 Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. "Who are these with you?" he asked. Jacob answered, "They are the children God has graciously given your servant." 6 Then the maidservants and their children approached and bowed down. 7 Next, Leah and her children came and bowed down. Last of all came Joseph and Rachel, and they too bowed down.

NIV

All appears well now between these two, but is it really? It does seem as though Esau has discovered forgiveness. He runs and embraces his brother Jacob, except we thought God has renamed him Israel. So why now is he called by his old name rather than his new God given name? Could there still be a bit of the old nature at work in this meeting? Jacob divides up his children, who by the way, we do not know their ages at this point, by his wives. He puts the maidservants first then Leah and he puts Rachel and Joseph in the rear. He puts them in the order of importance to him. So then goes out in front to meet his brother and his four hundred men. Certainly there is some great significance to his bowing seven times as he approaches Esau. It would suggest a most humble attitude, a lowly position, showing honor to Esau. Not knowing the heart of Esau, we do still see a heart of forgiveness expressed as he runs and embraces Jacob, kissing him, showing an affection surely Jacob did not expect. So we have these two brothers weeping at their reunion. Alas the family is once again together, but not for long. We will see Esau offer to leave men to be a vanguard, an escort to ensure safe passage back to the family encampment of Esau. He was expecting Jacob to return to the same area as he lived. But we see Jacob refuse such an offer. Was it because he now knew the protection of God? Was he now relying on God more then on men? Perhaps he is a new man after all. We must wait until we get to that portion of the narrative. For now we must learn from this meeting, this heart of Esau. At one time he was so angry, so filled with hatred toward Jacob, he vowed he would kill him. We were told Esau carried a grudge.  Twenty years have passed and he has lived a good life, he has prospered well, as he comes to meet Jacob with four hundred men in his service. Surely he had more taking care of his family encampment and all his flocks and herds. He was a wealthy man in his own right and maybe his anger has been tempered with all his blessings and the passage of time. Then again, his heart could very well have been softened by God. The point being, from all we are told here, Esau had forgiven Jacob. With as much frustration that Jacob caused Esau, he found it in his heart to forgive. It did not appear he was either jealous of Jacob or looked at him with contempt. He ran throwing his arms around Jacob’s neck and kissed him. Pure forgiveness as shown here. This is how we need to live. When we are mistreated, no revenge, no fighting back, no anger, no hatred, no hurt feelings, just forgiveness. That is so much easier said than done. Sometimes it feels good to be angry with someone. At least we think it feels good. We want to exact some form of payback, perhaps withholding any affection, or even communication. But this is not from the heart softened by God. This sort of attitude comes from the old nature, which is supposed to be dead. Why do we resurrect it? Let the dead bury the dead, leave it dead and move on living up to our new name, which is written down in glory. Let us live with a heart softened by God, living with a heart of forgiveness. God has told us over and over again that he will forgive us as we forgive.

Matt 6:14-15

14 For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.

NIV

We certainly want the forgiveness of God, yet here it is, his forgiveness comes with our forgiveness. So let us live rightly in the sight of God, forgiving as he forgives, pure and without hesitation. Let us run to those who have caused us harm, throwing our arms around their necks and kiss them, weeping together with joy.