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The story of Jacob and Esau is about
the reconciliation of brothers divided by hatred
and jealousy, and is extraordinarily relevant
today. These Bible passages from the King James
Version reveal the power of forgiveness to transform
individuals and restore relationships.
As you read about the reconciliation
of Jacob and Esau, notice:
- what happened when Jacob first sent messengers
to Esau to ask for forgiveness;
- how Jacob prayed to God to deliver him;
- how Jacob "wrestled" until he received
a blessing
- how Jacob's new view of himself, his brother,
and God transformed him;
- how Jacob, now "Israel," went out
to meet his brother despite his fear;
- how Esau forgave Jacob;
- the power of Jacob's new view of Esau -- seeing
his face as the "face of God."
Gen. 32:3-13
And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his
brother unto the land of Seir, the country of
Edom. And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall
ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob
saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed
there until now: And I have oxen, and asses, flocks,
and menservants, and womenservants: and I have
sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in
thy sight. And the messengers returned to Jacob,
saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also
he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with
him. Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed:
and he divided the people that was with him, and
the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two
bands; And said, If Esau come to the one company,
and smite it, then the other company which is
left shall escape. And Jacob said, O God of my
father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the
Lord which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country,
and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with
thee: I am not worthy of the least of all the
mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast
shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed
over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.
Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother,
from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he
will come and smite me, and the mother with the
children. And thou saidst, I will surely do thee
good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea,
which cannot be numbered for multitude. And he
lodged there that same night; and took of that
which came to his hand a present for Esau his
brother;
Gen. 32:24-30
And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a
man with him until the breaking of the day. And
when he saw that he prevailed not against him,
he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow
of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled
with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day
breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go,
except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What
is thy name? And he said, Jacob. And he said,
Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel:
for as a prince hast thou power with God and with
men, and hast prevailed. And Jacob asked him,
and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And
he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after
my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called
the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen
God face to face, and my life is preserved.
Gen. 33:1-12
And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and,
behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men.
And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto
Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. And he put
the handmaids and their children foremost, and
Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph
hindermost. And he passed over before them, and
bowed himself to the ground seven times, until
he came near to his brother. And Esau ran to meet
him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and
kissed him: and they wept. And he lifted up his
eyes, and saw the women and the children; and
said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The
children which God hath graciously given thy servant.
Then the handmaidens came near, they and their
children, and they bowed themselves. And Leah
also with her children came near, and bowed themselves:
and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they
bowed themselves. And he said, What meanest thou
by all this drove which I met? And he said, These
are to find grace in the sight of my lord. And
Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that
thou hast unto thyself. And Jacob said, Nay, I
pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight,
then receive my present at my hand: for therefore
I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the
face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. Take,
I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee;
because God hath dealt graciously with me, and
because I have enough. And he urged him, and he
took it. And he said, Let us take our journey,
and let us go, and I will go before thee. 
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