May 26 | Genesis 33:1-20
DAILY READING
Genesis 33:1-20
REFLECTION
Brother(s)
by Kim Starr
Jacob and Esau struggled with one another while they were still in their mother’s womb. When they were born, Esau arrived first with Jacob holding onto his heel. When the boys were older, Jacob fed a starving Esau in exchange for Esau’s birthright. Later, Jacob and his mother successfully conspired to steal Esau’s blessing from their father. When Esau discovered his blessing stolen, he decided to kill Jacob once their father was no longer alive.
Twenty years pass and Jacob reaches out to Esau. Upon meeting, Jacob bows to Esau, but Esau runs to meet Jacob, embraces him, throws his arms around his neck, and kisses him. While hanging onto one another, they weep.
What happened that caused this change of heart between the brothers? God. From the very beginning, God had chosen Jacob to be the heir of His promises. Before the boys were born, God even tells Rebekah that the older will serve the younger. (Genesis 25:23) Not a thing the brothers did could change God’s intention. In fact, God uses the boys’ faults, Jacob’s deceit and Esau’s hatred, to accomplish His purpose.
We also need to remember that God is a God of restoration. He can take a relationship that seems dead and breathe life back into it. He looks through the lens of redemption, takes the broken, and puts it back together. Our all-powerful God can change us, renew us, and restore us to accomplish His purposes.
Do you have a relationship with someone that is broken, or even dead? Ask God to restore it. Do you, like Jacob, need to reach out to someone and humble yourself? Or, like Esau, do you need to let go of your hatred/anger and meet someone who has reached out to you? God has a plan for you and this other person. He will accomplish His purposes if you let Him work through both of you.
PRAYER PRACTICE
Lord, please help us remember You planned everything from the beginning and that You are still at work today. You know who we need to reach out to and who we need to meet. Please stir in our hearts the relationships you want to restore or revive. Let us listen so that, like Jacob and Esau, we can be reconciled. Amen
