#genesis33

Enough

“I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.”

Jacob is continuously experiencing God’s grace and blessings. He went back to Canaan with this fear of his brother will kill him. Even after wrestling with God, he still was going through fear that his brother was able to kill him. I think this shows how the old testaments are not just stories but real life events that are recorded to display our emotions and feelings, doubts and sins so that we not only learn from it but read and learn how God heals, listens and deliver us from them.

I know and I still want to be a part of this. Lord, when I am weak, I know You are listening to me. 

Genesis 33:1-20 (King James Version)

Finally. 

The meeting that we’ve all been waiting for has finally happened in Genesis 33. I am honestly surprised at the way Esau reacted towards Jacob. I did not expect such a happy meeting between the two brothers. 

When Jacob saw Esau, this is exactly what happened:

“...Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.” - Genesis 33:4

Where’s the bitterness? What happened to “I will kill Jacob”? There was none of that. Instead of bitterness, there was forgiveness. Instead of revenge, there was love. Imagine how hard it probably was for Esau to greet his brother with open arms, and change his vengeful heart to a forgiving heart. Jacob didn’t just take some little thing from Esau. He took his birthright and his blessings. Yet, Esau still loved his brother despite his wrongdoings. 

How easy it is to hate the ones who hurt or deceived us. How easy it is for us to hold grudges. How easy it is for us to harden our hearts after being manipulated or hurt repeatedly. 

Esau is like us. He was hurt and angry. He became hateful towards Jacob for what he has done, and wanted to kill him. But many years later, Esau no longer has even a drop of bitterness in him. And I believe that we can remove all of our own bitterness, just as Esau had. 

How do I react when people wronged me? Do I hold onto bitterness or do I let go and love? Do I have a heart of forgiveness or a heart of revenge? I pray that we learn to turn to our Father in times of hurting and bitterness. I pray that we learn to forgive those who have wronged us, just as Jesus forgave us for our own wrongdoings. I pray that our hearts be softened and transformed to hearts of love and forgiveness, just like Jesus.