Love Keeps No Record of Wrongs (1)
Scripture Reading — 1 Cor. 13:5d; Genesis 33:1-11
“For to see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably.”
The story of Jacob and Esau is a magnificent account of how God’s love melts resentment and moves us to forgive. Jacob received Esau’s birthright by exploiting his hunger (Genesis 25:29-34). Sometime later, their mother Rebekah schemed to get the father’s blessing for her favorite son Jacob, a blessing that should have gone instead to Esau. When Esau realized what had happened, he “held a grudge against Jacob” and vowed in his heart to kill his brother after the death of their father Isaac (Genesis 27:41).
Acting on the urgent advice of his mother, Jacob fled to Haran to stay temporarily with his Uncle Laban until Esau got over his anger. After living with his uncle for about twenty-one years, Jacob returned home with his large family and great wealth. Fearing Esau, Jacob sent a generous bribe ahead to appease his brother. And he fervently prayed for deliverance from Esau. God answered his prayer in a marvelous way by removing Esau’s resentment, and filling his heart with love. Moved by gratitude to God for his brother’s forgiveness, Jacob said to Esau: “to see your face is like seeing the face of God.”
Maybe you are holding a grudge against someone, or you know of someone who is holding a grudge against you. Ask the Lord to take away the grudge, and to fill you and the person with his love.
Father, I see the horrendous harm resentment causes among people. Pour out your love in the hearts of people that we may be reconciled to one another in love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
About the author — Richard E. Williams
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