READ: Genesis 33 (Focus vs. 1-10)
MEMORY VERSE
“[Jacob] bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.” Genesis 33:3
BACKGROUND
My cousins, who lived only two miles away when we were growing up, weren’t allowed to interact with my family. They never came to reunions or talked to us at the local grocery store. Their parents said it was because, back then, we didn’t attend church and we’d be a bad influence on them.
What a surprise when many years later, a cousin attended my eldest brother’s funeral! He approached us one by one and humbly apologized for their attitude. Our relationship with him began to be restored.
Jacob needed a humble heart to seek restoration with his twin brother, Esau. Jacob, the second born, had connived against Esau: He stole his brother’s birthright (Genesis 25:19-34) and deceived his elderly father into giving him the firstborn’s blessing (26:34–27:40).
Furious, Esau threatened to kill him, so Jacob had run to another country.
Years later, Jacob wanted to return home but was afraid the deep division between him and his brother wouldn’t be resolved without bloodshed (32:6-8).
When he and Esau finally met, he humbly “bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother” (33:3). He feared Esau would kill him, but instead Esau came running “and embraced him” (v. 4).
Whether we’ve harmed another or have been harmed, it takes humility, openness, and often much work to heal the brokenness. But God can and will help us.
Anne Cetas
INSIGHT
The rift between Jacob and his brother Esau began when Jacob first stole Esau’s birthright and then through treachery gained the blessing his father had intended for his older brother Esau (Genesis 27:27-36). Esau had vowed to murder Jacob in revenge (v. 41).
In Genesis 32-33, Jacob sent ahead of his traveling party many gifts, hoping the gifts would soften Esau’s anger (32:13-21). When Jacob finally encountered Esau face to face, he said, “Please accept the present that was brought to you” (33:11).
The word translated “present” here is literally “blessing,” the same word used for the blessing Jacob stole from Esau (27:35-36). In this way, Jacob emphasized that he recognized how he’d harmed Esau and desired to make amends.
Today, as we humbly seek to bring healing to our broken relationships, God will help us.
Monica La Rose
APPLICATION
What relationships in your life might need restoration? How can you start the process?
PR’s (Pastor Richard) RE-EMPHASIS (From Today’s Post)
“Whether we’ve harmed another or have been harmed, it takes humility, openness, and often much work to heal the brokenness. But God can and will help us.”
PR’s TAKE
“Unforgiveness doesn’t punish the one who hurt you. It punishes you. It keeps you chained to pain, bitterness and the past… It poisons the present and keeps (you) from what the Lord has for the future for you.” Anonymous
“Humility is the essential foundation of all virtues. Without it, any apparent virtue is vanity.” St Augustine
Humility is not an admission of weakness but a display of divine strength Pr
PRAYER
“Dear Father, please keep me from holding grudges or becoming bitter and help me forgive others and ask for forgiveness.”
TODAY’S HYMN/WORSHIP/PRAISE/GOSPEL SONG
“HUMILITY”
Humility, thou secret vale,
Unknown to proud in heart;
Where show’rs of blessing never fail,
And glories ne’er depart.
Oh, make thy blest abode with me,
Thou angel of the sky;
If I may ever dwell with thee,
My soul shall never die.
Humility, how pure thy place!
Thou seat of holiness!
Thou door of entrance into grace
And everlasting bliss!
Oh, make thy blest abode with me…
Humility, how calm the breast
That knows thy peace sublime!
Within thy courts our perfect rest
Grows sweeter all the time.
Oh, make thy blest abode with me…
Humility, thou shoreless sea
Of perfect love so deep!
Thy crystal waters cover me,
My helpless soul to keep.
Oh, make thy blest abode with me,
Thou angel of the sky;
If I may ever dwell with thee,
My soul shall never die.
