The Peacemaker

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

THE PEACEMAKER

 

Gen 32:3-5

3 Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4 He instructed them: "This is what you are to say to my master Esau: 'Your servant Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now. 5 I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, menservants and maidservants. Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes.'"

NIV

We are still in the narrative when Jacob returns to his father’s house, or camp, and meet with his brother Esau. From what appears to be Jacob is making an attempt to be a peacemaker. In the past, that was much hostility to the point that Esau wanted to kill Jacob over the blessing from their father, Isaac. We cannot be sure why Jacob wanted Esau to know that he had become a very wealthy man with cattle, donkeys, sheep, goats, menservants, and maidservants. However, the point we see with Jacob returning and sending messengers ahead to inform his brother is that Jacob is trying to make peace, to reestablish a bond with his brother. This could be our life lesson. First, there should never be hostility between brothers and sisters in a family, or in the body of Christ. Unfortunately, we have witnessed hostility or transgressions against one another, and unforgiveness against one another. Jesus made it clear that a peacemaker is blessed. He also made it clear that if we forgive those who trespass against us, God will forgive us, but if we don’t forgive, God will not forgive us. We recite that very truth in what we consider is the Lord’s prayer, forgive us our transgressions, as we forgive those who transgress against us. Jacob is making the effort to be a peacemaker with the hope that Esau will forgive him for transgressing against him. This brings us to the truth that if we have offended someone, and they feel offended and harbor any ill feelings toward us, it is not up to them to come to us, but we must go to them, asking for their forgiveness, making peace. It does not matter that we say we are sorry, but we must ask for forgiveness, giving them a way to forgive us, so that God will forgive them for having any ill feelings toward us. Blessed are the peacemakers for they will be called sons of God. First, let us make every effort to live in peace with all men, meaning we should make every effort not to offend anyone. Second, if we think we have been offended, could that be because we think too highly of ourselves? However, if someone offends us, we have been told to forgive, never harboring any ill feelings, for that would not be living in peace with all men. The way to true peace is to think more of others than ourselves or love one another as Christ loves us. If we are not loving by either offending or by unforgiveness, that would mean no one is a peacemaker thus we would not be a son of God.