Focal Passage: Genesis 27:35-41; 33:1-4, 8-11
Isaac and Rebekah’s favoritism spawned a family rivalry between their sons Esau and Jacob. Jacob and Rebekah’s deception threatened to destroy the family forever. Yet, Jacob desired to return to the land promised to his grandfather Abraham. That would require restoration of family ties long severed. The reconciliation between Jacob and Esau provides hope for families broken asunder by hatred and deception.
Hatred should never be an option. Esau had every right to be furious over the stolen blessing. He complained to his father that Jacob had cheated him twice. However, his anger for his brother turned into bitterness, envy and violent hatred. This provides a glimpse into the heart of Esau.
This episode with his father is but the culmination of a life rejecting the promise and destiny of Abraham’s family. Esau disdained the birthright in Chapter 25 over a bowl of red stew. Yes, Jacob was deceitful like his mother in this story, but Esau did not care enough about his birthright’s significance to hold it securely He sold it for a bowl of soup.
Henceforth, he would always be named Edom, or “Red.” Yes, it could refer to Esau’s ruddy hair, but the nickname was given only after he sold his birthright for the red stew. At the conclusion of Chapter 26, Esau married a Canaanite woman in defiance of his parents’ wishes and instruction.
Esau’s life was marked by continual disregard to God’s ideal for his family. It patterned his life. Here in tears, he begged his father for a blessing, but Isaac could not undo what had transpired. The writer of Hebrews uses this account as an instruction for believers to endure in faith rather than succumb to the “root of bitterness” (Hebrews 12:14-17).
Always choose humility. Jacob knew that his brother wanted to kill him. That is why Rebekah encouraged him to flee to Haran and seek out his uncle, Laban. Rebekah and Jacob probably thought this would be a temporary sojourn, where Jacob would find a wife connected to their family and wait for Esau’s anger to abate. However, this flight to Mesopotamia would last decades and Rebekah would never see her son again.
After marriages to Leah and Rachel and numerous children being born, eventually the relationship between Jacob and Laban soured, and Jacob had to flee back to Canaan — back to the Land God had promised his family. The problem was that this is exactly where Esau lived!
How was Jacob to coexist with his brother, a brother he believed still wanted him dead? Jacob led with humility. He took all the preparatory measures he could to protect his family, but then went on ahead to face his brother. He bowed seven times to the ground in front of his brother, not knowing what Esau’s response would be. Jacob took the initiative. He proactively sought reconciliation.
Always seek reconciliation and restoration. Thankfully, Esau greeted his brother with joyful embrace! Jacob insisted that Esau accept the gifts he offered. He went out of his way to make sure that his relationship with Esau was restored. Christians should be the ones to seek peace in their families, regardless of the result. We have the message and ministry of reconciliation, and this should be applied to our families as well as the world at large (II Corinthians 5:18-19).
The Christian life is one patterned by love, compassion and the gospel. We should seek to reconcile sinners with God in Christ, reconcile wayward brothers and sisters back in fellowship with the church and reconcile estranged family members back home in grace and love. B&R


