Jacob had planned a great gift for Esau in the hope of gaining his favour, but it was not the gift that enabled Jacob and Esau to reconcile – it was the change of heart that both Jacob and Esau had experienced at God’s hand.

Instead of cowering fearfully, Jacob ran towards his brother. Instead of coming ready for a fight with 400 men, Esau came in peace.

Notice that Jacob and Esau do not go over old ground. What’s done is done. There is no arguing over the birthright or the blessing. These things are not forgotten – certainly not by Jacob anyway – but discussion of them is not part of this meeting. Esau has prospered in the two decades of Jacob’s absence. He has enough flocks and herds that he does not need to accept Jacob’s gift. Perhaps it is this prosperity that allows him to meet his brother so graciously.

Jacob and Laban could not find a way towards reconciliation. The best they could manage was to part without battle and each go his own way. Things are different for Jacob and Esau. Jacob is prepared to make amends for his past actions by presenting Esau with a great gift. For his part, Esau is prepared to let bygones be bygones.

It does not seem as though Esau has spent twenty years plotting his revenge on his brother. Instead, he has got on with making a success of his life. He is so secure that even when he sees that Jacob’s life has been blessed and witnesses his great wealth, he does not become angry or jealous.

We can learn something from Esau here. He was certainly wronged and deceived. His first instinct was revenge but, as Jacob had fled, he instead turned his energies to building his own life, and he became prosperous. Esau’s decision to put down his desire for revenge was certainly an important factor in allowing reconciliation between himself and his brother. If we are wronged, we have the same choice – to focus on the wrong, or to let it lie, and put our energies into something more beneficial. May God give us grace to choose his perfect way.

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NEWBOLD COMMUNITY CHURCH