“No, please!” said Jacob. “If I have found favor in your eyes, accept this gift from me. For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably."
New International Version (NIV)
Sibling conflict goes back to the start. Remember Cain and Abel? Fast forward to Jacob and Esau. Esau was mad at Jacob for good reason. His brother kept stealing from him. At one point he threatened to kill his brother. Jacob fled to a foreign land and was blessed greatly by God. Then he decided to go home. But what about Esau? Could he look his brother in the eyes? What would he see? Jacob had lived fearlessly, but suddenly he felt fear. What if his brother killed him?
As a deal-maker, Jacob had a plan. He would bribe his brother. Maybe with enough herds of animals he could purchase his brother’s pardon. Jacob never expected what happened. The face he saw when he saw Esau was the face of God. Our God is the God who forgives and empowers us to forgive. When Esau forgave Jacob it was like seeing the face of God himself.
Like Jacob we could live making deals with others. But God has a better plan. We cannot buy God’s forgiveness but we can receive it, if we will. If we saw God’s face what would we see? Forgiveness. God is ready to forgive if we are ready to receive it. Will we turn form our sin and receive his grace? I pray we will.
Pray with me:
Father, show us the face of forgiveness today. We could never purchase your pardon. Help us to receive it and then to give it to others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This year we focus our Every Day with Jesus readings on Jesus’ story.
Let’s focus our undivided attention on Jesus and follow where he leads us.
He will not fail. Neither will we!
Joyfully,
Duane
Copyright 2017. All Rights Reserved.
Share this email:
Manage your preferences | Opt out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.
