Jacob and Esau Part

 Genesis 33:12-17

“12 Then Esau said, “Let us journey on our way, and I will go alongside you.” 13 But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail and that the flocks and herds, which are nursing, are a care to me, and if they are overdriven for one day, all the flocks will die. 14 Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will lead on slowly, according to the pace of the cattle that are before me and according to the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.” 15 So Esau said, “Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “Why should my lord be so kind to me?” 16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17 But Jacob journeyed to Succoth and built himself a house and made booths for his cattle; therefore the place is called Succoth.”

Reading this scripture, we discover that Jacob still does not trust Esau. After they hugged and Esau forgave Jacob, Esau invited Jacob and his family to travel with him back to his home in Edom, a region that is south of where they met and reconciled.  

Jacob made polite and flimsy excuses as to why he could do this.  Was he fearful that Esau still wanted to kill him? Jacob even refused Esau’s offer to leave some men with him to accompany him to ensure his safety while they traveled to Esau’s home.

As soon as Esau and his 400 men left, Jacob actually traveled north to Succoth, the exact opposite direction of Esau’s home in Seir.  

Jacob must have felt that something was not right.  Could it have been possible that while Esau forgave Jacob, Jacob did not feel forgiven, or could not believe he was forgiven?  Whatever it was, it prevented Jacob from having the relationship with Esau that God desired.

Christians often have this problem.  We cannot believe that God can forgive our past, or that people who say they have forgiven us can actually mean what they say.  This prevents us from moving forward in our relationship with God and with other people.

Forgiveness is God’s gift of love to us.  

He calls us to accept it, and to practice it.

May the love of Christ be with you,

Rev. Eric Lanier (Retired)