Reunion

Genesis 33:1-11 NASB

Then Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two maids.  He put the maids and their children in front, and Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last.  But he himself passed on ahead of them and bowed down to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
  Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.  He lifted his eyes and saw the women and the children, and said, "Who are these with you?" So he said, "The children whom God has graciously given your servant."  Then the maids came near with their children, and they bowed down.  Leah likewise came near with her children, and they bowed down; and afterward Joseph came near with Rachel, and they bowed down.  And he said, "What do you mean by all this company which I have met?" And he said, "To find favor in the sight of my lord."  But Esau said, "I have plenty, my brother; let what you have be your own."  Jacob said, "No, please, if now I have found favor in your sight, then take my present from my hand, for I see your face as one sees the face of God, and you have received me favorably.  "Please take my gift which has been brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me and because I have plenty." Thus he urged him and he took  it.

My thoughts -

It's amazing what a little time and distance can do for healing. When Jacob and Esau last saw each other Esau was plotting to kill Jacob after Jacob had stolen Esau's blessing from their father. Jacob fled in fear and settled in Laban's house where he labored for twenty years.

Jacob had taken both of Laban's daughters as his wives and had amassed a large flock and many servants and children while with Laban. Upon returning to the land of his father Jacob feared his brother would still be angry so he took a portion of his flock and had it driven ahead by his servants to be a gift for his brother.

While twenty years had passed Esau would have every right to be angry with Jacob. In Esau's mind Jacob had stolen both his birthright (Esau despised and sold his birthright, though one could argue Jacob should not have exploited Esau's weakness in this area) and his blessing. While Jacob worked hard for Laban it is also clear that he prospered from the blessing, as God was with him in all that he did. Laban's flock grew exponentially under Jacob's care.

So Jacob returns to his brother. He is successful and wealthy. Twenty years have passed. He desires to be restored to his brother, or at least to be able to live in peace near him. So he gives Esau this gift. Call it a peace offering. Call it restitution. Jacob has wronged Esau, after all. Esau despised his birthright but Jacob did steal the blessing. He lied and manipulated their father and impersonated his brother while Esau was away doing what their father desired in order to be blessed. Esau did all the work and Jacob got the blessing.

So, did Esau's anger still burn after twenty years? We find the answer to that question in the form of a warm embrace. Twenty years can put out the hottest of fires.

"Wow! It's good to see you! How are you doing?" Esau asks. "It's been a long time. Who are all these people with you?"

"I have been blessed." Jacob humbly replies. "And I have a gift for you as well."

Esau doesn't want to take the gift at first but Jacob insists. And with that the two brothers are restored. The hatchet is buried. Time, distance, and some growing up on both sides have healed the wounds of the past. Jacob has worked hard for twenty years for a father in law who lied and cheated him. Esau had also made a life of his own.

Two grown men stand before each other. Twenty years have passed. Childish feuds are behind them. They embrace. It's good to be home.