January 12, 2023 - Genesis 33-36

People do stupid things. People do unbelievable things. People do wrong and sinful things. All of us do. And, then, there are Esau and Jacob. What a mess. Here’s the thing, though; the two brothers got things worked out: “ [Jacob] himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept” (33:3-4). A brother, Jacob, who had weaseled his way into the inheritance and afraid of how his offended brother would respond only to be surprised when Esau fell on his neck and kissed him! And together they wept tears of joy. How sweet is forgiveness! And those who refuse to grant it perhaps harm themselves more than anyone else as they hold on to anger because of the wrong done to them. This thought is expressed in an observation from the Hilllsong team: “Forgiveness is more for the forgiver than the forgiven.” – Danny & Leila Abdallah.

Oh, what good news that God has not held on to his anger but has, in Christ, forgiven us and cast our transgressions from us as far as the east is from the west. What sweet fellowship we, as those forgiven, have with the One who has forgiven!

What love could remember no wrongs we have done

Omniscient, all knowing, He counts not their sum

Thrown into a sea without bottom or shore

Our sins they are many, His mercy is more

What patience would wait as we constantly roam

What Father, so tender, is calling us home

He welcomes the weakest, the vilest, the poor

Our sins they are many, His mercy is more. -- Keith & Kristyn Getty (2018)