Daily Devotions
Genesis
"The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation." Psalm 118:14
Text: Genesis 33:1-20
NOTHING TAKEN FOR GRANTED
Yes, there was great and genuine joy in Jacob’s heart that he had effected a wonderful reconciliation with Esau, his twin brother. How easy it would have been to accept Esau’s words, and to withdraw the present intended for his brother. Jacob refused to allow his heart to deceive him. He knew that he must not take this restored relationship with Esau for granted. If nothing else, he must do even more to cement this new bond of love that now existed between them.
“If I have now found favour in your sight, then receive my present from my hand…”
Jacob was genuinely self-effacing! This was the new person who remembered that the Lord had called him “Israel”. Was he called by such a lofty name? Then he would attempt to live up to that name with all his heart.
He must act like “a prince with God”! He must display true humility. He must keep his word! He must follow through with his good intentions! But of course he must give Esau a handsome present – no matter how much that must have cost him!
“Inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God…”
Jacob must have remembered how he “wrestled” with the Lord the night before at Peniel! He had seen the face of God, he declared, and had survived. As he stood before his brother, who had once sworn to kill him, he must have felt that he was glad just to survive! This thought alone was over-whelming! Jacob was now becoming even more spiritual. He could see the Lord’s face… in the love that Esau had shown him!
“God has dealt graciously with me and because I have enough…”
How had Esau been growing spiritually? He had not shown any great signs of being spiritual when he was younger, but neither had Jacob. The latter had indeed been greatly blessed by the Lord. He now spoke of the Lord freely.
But of course he must speak of the Lord freely. Had he not fled Canaan with only a staff in his hand? He had returned with so much wealth that he could afford to give to his brother a truly significant present! God would have wanted him to be so large-hearted!
“Please take my blessing…”
Jacob saw his material wealth as the Lord’s blessing. When he presented his brother a gift of sheep, goats and camels, he saw his present as his “blessing” from the Lord. If he had indeed believed that the Lord had blessed him so richly, then he would indeed be able to give as he had!
“And he took it…”
Esau probably did not expect to hear such spiritual words from his twin brother. How Jacob must have changed, to be able to speak as he did! He listened to Jacob carefully and accepted his words of testimony. In this spirit he received Jacob’s gift.