Scripture Text: "And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids." Genesis 33:1 (KJV)

It had been 21 years and Jacob had been living and working for Laban - trying to win the hand of Rachel. Yet on the night he was supposed to receive Rachel for his wife, he is fooled in the darkness of the tent and given Leah instead. The Bible doesn't tell us that He resisted much, but even continued to work for another 7 years just to win the hand of Rachel.

What would you have done? Would you have trusted Laban after he had kept something as beautiful and desiring as Rachel seemed to be to Jacob, and what's more, Jacob loved her.

So much if life is thrown away because of deceit and indiscretion in the family. Where do you think that comes from? Let me tell you, it's sure not the Lord!

But there's another truth that is brought out here, and bears repeating.

Jacob had been cheated out of something that met the world to him. He had been promised the "blessing" of a wife; a certain wife; by name. Rachel. That's not what he got. He got second best... at least in his eyes. But wait a minute... isn't that what Jacob and Rebekah, his mother die to Esau his brother? Did they not steal the Birthright
which belonged to Esau, right out from under him? What does the Bible say about that concerning you and I today?

"Judge not, that ye be not judged. For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again." Mat 7:1 ,2 (KJV)

Perhaps Jacob could better deal with the deceit and cunning of Laban - another family member, because he had himself been deceitful. How you and I could learn a lesson from Jacob's readiness to forgive and to restore his trust in his relation.

One of the greatest passages in the Bible with the greatest suspense and passion - next to that of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, is found here in these next couple chapters of the Book of Genesis. 

Jacob has been away from home for 21 years and has a longing for home, yet he is concerned at how his brother Esau will treat him when he arrives there. So what does he do? He sends for the servants with messages and gifts or offerings unto Esau - "feeling him out" so-to-speak. But when Jacob's servants return, they bring this message:

"We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him." Genesis 32:6 (KJV)

The next verse tells us that Jacob was terrified at the news and began preparing his family and flocks for the worst.

Now, does that sound sweet to you? Those of you who have grudges or harbor ill-will in your heart against your co-worker; against your neighbor; maybe even against your very own kin? Would you like to have those who have wronged you in the same hot-seat stewing over what you might do to retaliate: making them sick and losing sleep over the possible results of what might come of their wrong-doing, even though it may have been done innocently?

That's the kind of stress and tension Jacob was under because while he knew his mother instigated the entire deception to steal Esau's birthright, Jacob was in on it - and he received "the blessing", something the belonged to the first-born. It says there in Genesis 32:7 that Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed.

The Suspense builds as Jacob and Esau draw closer and closer. Jacob has split his family and his herds and then split them again and again in hopes that something may be saved for his off-spring in the event that Esau would take his life - something he knew deep down inside that he probably deserved.

"And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother." Gen 33:1-3 (KJV)

AND FINALLY IT HAPPENED! ESAU AND JACOB MEET FACE TO FACE and the Scripture tells us....

"And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept." Genesis 33:4 (KJV)

OH, friend, someone just got touched to the very core of your belly as you thought of that loved one you need to forgive. You have been estranged for so many years and you know they have family but you don't even know their family members names because of the wall of unforgiveness between you. Someone just got touched to the inner core of their belly as you thought of how you would give everything to be forgiven in such a way that the one you had wronged would seek you out and embrace you with all of their heart and kiss you and deliver you from the darkness you've been in for so many years.

What a wonderful picture of the GOSPEL OF CHRIST! You and I had committed - HAVE COMMITTED the greatest of sin(s) against the father, yet he sends forth His very OWN SON to be the Propitiation - that means that he wasn't just the sacrifice for our sins, but he was the covering and the restorer of the breach - He became the NEW BREATH OF GOD IN YOU and in ME Praise His Name!

Can you forgive this morning as you have been forgiven? What a witness to the Cross you could be today if you could put away your selfish pride and take up his cross and his love and F-O-R-G-I-V-E!

Let's pray.

Father, I have found myself at times in a terrible place of darkness as I looked over the nape of one's neck who had wronged me and watched as they tried to escape my possible wrath. I have to my sorrow salivated over the possible horror I could inflict upon them, desiring nothing more than to hurt and destroy them for I knew I  had the right. Yet, out of my weighty and high-handed thoughts of backlash and desires for punitive damages to be levied upon them - you reminded me of my sin and my shortcomings, and you restored my soul. Oh Father, I desire that restoration for someone else this morning who is troubled with unforgiveness. May they seek out that person who has wronged them from a heart of love - and find grace; and then bestow that gift of grace upon someone else. In Jesus' Name, I pray, Amen.