08/05/2021
Have you ever been hurt by someone else, and wanted to hurt them back? Get even? Seek revenge? Retaliate? Even had murderous thoughts? Esau, the Old Testament character, had those feelings. The story of Esau and Jacob reads like a juicy novel. The brothers were born to Isaac, the son of Abraham. When Isaac was near death,he desires to give to Esau, the older of the two brothers,his blessing. Today,we bless things all the time, and it means approval or acceptance. But in Biblical times, a blessing was to grant another a place of honor and status.
You've heard it said of some people, "Everything he touches turns to gold". That's the kind of reward that comes to one who has received the blessing. And, actually, the blessing is given to the first born son. Yet as the story unfolds,at the scheming of his mother, Rebekah, Jacob the younger son, tricks and deceives his father, Isaac, so that the blessing is given to Jacob, whose name means" he deceives". Imagine the shock and horror that Esau feels when he learns of the deception. Genesis 27 - 33
Biblical reconciliation is the process of two previously alienated parties coming to peace with each other. Because God has reconcile us to Himself through Jesus Christ, our Lord and savior, we can reconcile with each other, no longer counting our offences against one another. The absence of reconciliation robs the church of the power of unity.
