For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably.

Genesis 33:10, NIV 

 

Have you ever done something really terrible to someone and then were afraid of ever meeting up with them again? Maybe it was someone you had lied to, and they found out. Or maybe it was someone you didn't treat well from school, or perhaps someone that you had cheated in some business deal. Whatever it was, you were guilty and they knew it. Further more, you had damaged them in some way or another, and you were ashamed.

 

And maybe, just maybe, you were hesitant to meet up with them again because you were not sure if they were out for revenge.

 

This was the situation that Jacob found himself in. He had tricked his brother Esau out of a huge inheritance, and then he had cheated him out of the blessing that their father Isaac was to give to him as the firstborn. In other words, Jacob had lied and cheated and stolen from his brother - and his brother knew it!

 

This is the setting for the verse above! Jacob had done his brother such harm that he had actually run away for twenty years, and now he was coming face to face with Esau for the first time since he had left. Furthermore, Esau had with him a small army of men when they met. Jacob was sure that he was doomed... and that's when Esau committed one of the greatest acts of kindness ever recorded in the Bible: He forgave his brother!

 

And Jacob was so moved that he said that to see his brother Esau receiving him in such a favorable way was like seeing the face of God! That is quite a statement, when you think about it, and quite a tribute to a man that he had once defrauded so badly that he had to flee for his life.

 

Here is one lesson, I believe, that we should take from this: Go and do the same! You see, there are people in our lives who perhaps have treated us badly. Maybe they have cheated us, maybe they have lied to us. Maybe they have even stolen what was rightfully ours. No matter; our duty is to forgive, and especially when they are trying to make it right and seek out our forgiveness.

 

Too often we allow someone else's wrong to separate us from the precious relationships that God wants us to enjoy. Maybe someone has done you wrong in the past and you haven't taken the chance to let them know that they are forgiven - why not take that chance now. Or maybe, you are the one who needs forgiveness. Maybe you are the one who has been doing all of the avoiding because you just cannot bear to look them in the eye. If that is the case, why not go to them and beg their forgiveness?

 

You might just be surprised at their reaction. You might just be favorably received! You might not, it's true, but what have you got to lose? For if they do receive you with grace and favor, it might just be to you like being able to see the face of God!

 

There's a lot to be said for Esau - when you think about it, he was quite a man! And he set quite an example! Are you man enough (or woman enough) to heed that example?

 

How good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell together in unity!

It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, down on the collars of his robes.

It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.

For there the LORD bestows His blessing. Even life forevermore.

the 133rd Psalm, NIV 

 

Today is the 9th day of the 120 day challenge to study through the Old Testament, with Genesis 33-36 being the text for today. May God richly bless you as you seek to restore the precious fellowship of those you love!