When we come face to face with our greatest adversary, how do we make peace?
Jacob is about to meet Esau. Will his desperate measures be enough to stave off his brother’s violent attack?
Preparing the Bride for GOD’s Story
How do we prepare as the Bride of Christ? One aspect is to learn GOD’S STORY. He created us in His image…. Piece by piece, and peace by peace, we learn to walk as He has walked. And we learn His perspective.
Genesis 32:13-21
“So he [Jacob] lodged there that same night, and took what came to his hand as a present for Esau his brother: two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty milk camels with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals. Then he delivered them to the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass over before me, and put some distance between successive droves.” And he commanded the first one, saying, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, saying, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you going? Whose are these in front of you?’ then you shall say, ‘They are your servant Jacob’s. It is a present sent to my lord Esau; and behold, he also is behind us.’ ” So he commanded the second, the third, and all who followed the droves, saying, “In this manner you shall speak to Esau when you find him; and also say, ‘Behold, your servant Jacob is behind us.’ ” For he said, “I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.” So the present went on over before him, but he himself lodged that night in the camp.”
Unnerved
I can imagine Jacob frantically trying to strategise and then put his ideas into practice, separating out the sheep and goats, organising his servants, preparing them to meet Esau, and always wondering, “Will he forgive me?” “Will he accept my gifts?” “Will he kill my servants and come after me?”
Could Jacob have done anything differently? Perhaps not, except that he might not have been in this situation in the first place, if he’d not listened to his mother and tricked his father Isaac into blessing him instead of his brother.
What a relief repentance and forgiveness are, now that we know Jesus.
What would you have done if you were Jacob?
Just as it would have been better — much less complicated — if Abraham had trusted GOD for Isaac rather than take Hagar as his wife to ensure a child, so too, things would have been better — less conflicting — if Rebecca would have trusted GOD for Jacob’s inheritance, rather than get him to use trickery to get it.
So, we need to practice this very simple proverb:
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
Trusting GOD for our outcomes is the better way, always. “Be anxious for nothing” and trust in GOD, and He will look out or the righteous outcome.