DAY 7 - God's Heart Beats with Reconciliation

Scripture Reading — Genesis 33:1-17

If anyone had good reason to hold a grudge, it would be Jacob’s brother, Esau. Jacob cheated Esau out of his birthright and his blessing; then he fled because Esau planned to kill him as soon as their father, Isaac, died.

Years later, after they both had wives and children, they met again, but Jacob was terrified that Esau still wanted to kill him. He sent messengers and lavish gifts ahead of him, hoping to reconcile with his brother. But there was nothing to fear! As Jacob bowed before his ­brother, “Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him.” Jacob responded, “To see your face is like seeing the face of God, now that you have received me favorably.”

In the previous chapter, Jacob’s response in today’s Scripture reading may remind us that Jacob had just had an experience of seeing God face to face. Now Jacob saw a reflection of God in Esau through their reconciliation.

Many of us have strained relationships with family members, friends, or others we have wronged. Perhaps we recognize the need for reconciliation but aren’t sure how to go about it. But relationships are always by grace. We cannot control how others respond to us; we can only show grace and enjoy the grace shown to us. We will hurt others, even if we do so unintentionally. And others will hurt us. We will have misunderstandings. We will anger others and be angry at others. But when we reconcile with another person after being at odds, we see God’s face, because God’s heart beats with reconciliation.

Dear God, thank you for reconciling the world to yourself in Christ. Thank you for making us Christ’s ambassadors of reconciliation. Help me to reconcile today with anyone who has hurt me and to take steps to reconcile with anyone I may have hurt. In Jesus' Name, Amen.