How to make true peace (Gen 33:1-17)

The pastor of the church I grew up in was a born-again Christian but his ambition to get ahead in the Communist era led him to denounce a talented fellow pastor as politically unreliable. Consequently, this other pastor was stripped of his office and sons of his who became pastors were later banned from preaching in Budapest (a key centre for controlling what went on in the Church). One of the sons pastored a small congregation near Budapest and he was such a gifted preacher that some drove out from the capital every Sunday to hear him. When Communism fell, our pastor invited him to preach at our church. Their meeting was a moving moment of reconciliation: one trying to make amends, the other extending forgiveness to the one who had him banned from ministry in Budapest and destroyed his father’s career. Fittingly, when our old pastor retired, the church invited this man to replace him.

Seeking reconciliation

Reconciliation is costly and when we have done wrong, it is tempting to avoid the person we have hurt. Likewise, offering forgiveness comes at a price as we absorb the cost of others’ destructive words or actions and relinquish the opportunity to retaliate. Seeing the events through Jacob’s eyes, we see what he fears: Esau coming with four hundred men (Gen 33:1). The way he arranges his folks in the reverse order of their value for him (maids, Leah, Rachel) reflects the old Jacob (Gen 33:2), and we may wonder if anything has changed after his encounter with God. Yet, instead of closing the ranks at the rear ready to flee, he limps to the front of the column to face his brother (Gen 33:3). Jacob will always struggle with his fearful nature and be tempted to avoid confrontation, but the Lord enables him here to display a new courage even amidst his fears. His deferential language (‘your servant’, ‘my lord’, Gen 33:5, 8) and behaviour (bowing down, v.3) seems to be an attempt to reverse his actions all those years ago that made him master over Esau (Gen 27:29).

Changed brothers

Esau’s transformation from an angry man breathing murder to a warmly welcoming brother is remarkable. In fact, Jacob recognises the hand of God in it when he says that seeing Esau’s friendly face is like seeing God’s favour at work (Gen 33:10). Perhaps the secret of Esau’s forgiveness is his contentment with what he has (Gen 33:9). Jealousy and comparisons are often at the root of people’s bitterness. Jacob’s insistence to give a gift shows his desire to make amends in tangible ways and give weight to his penitence (550 animals, a considerable fortune; Gen 32:14-15). In a world of cheap words and weightless remorse today, such a gesture is notable. As Jacob presses his brother to accept his gift, he says (in the Hebrew), ‘please take my blessing’ (Gen 33:11)! What a surprising turn of phrase from the Jacob who cheated and fought to gain blessing, and even when he was promised it by God at Bethel and have seen it fulfilled in part in exile, he could not stop struggling for it (Gen 32:26). Yet now that he is finally secure in God, he is able to share his blessing. Even though he is still wary of Esau (note the way he tries to avoid going with Esau or having his escort; Gen 33:12-15), he is also a changed man.

The difference God makes

Jacob’s reconciliation with Esau teaches us what difference it makes when we are secure in God knowing that we are loved and when we are content with what He has given, so that jealousy and comparisons no longer have the power to cause strife and fighting with others. We can afford to be generous because God has been generous to us. The brothers’ story also challenges us to seek reconciliation if we have hurt others and to make our ‘sorry’ count. Finally, it is good to remember that even when we encounter God, we do not become unrecognisably saintly but will continue to struggle with certain aspects of our character. Yet, like Jacob, there is hope for us because by God’s grace we can overcome our sinful inclinations and become better versions of ourselves.

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