Help me to stand....

Genesis 33:1-20

God, help me! Here he comes! And, he is running toward me...
Jacob looked up and saw him... He has 400 men with him! Look, he is running toward us! Quick, divide the children so that at least some will survive! I want the maidservants and their children first. Then I want Leah and her children. Rachel, I want you and Joseph to come last. I will go ahead of all of you to meet Esau. If anything happens to me...

The striking coldness of the fear! Jacob has no more time to figure out a plan, no more time to seek God's protection. The dreaded time is here. All he can do is face the music. He goes ahead of the women and children to meet his brother, bowing to the ground seven times as he approached. (Quick question... The bowing, was it a show of respect... was it humility... was it an act of contrition, asking for forgiveness... or, was it submission, out of fear? What do you think?)

Esau continues running toward him. Jacob stands there... frozen... lost... not knowing what to expect... not knowing what to do. Finally, Esau reaches Jacob. He trows his arms around Jacob, embracing him, and gives him a kiss. Jacob bursts into tears! I can almost feel the shock, the fear, all of the dread, every weight that has bound him for all of those years, falling off as his brother hugs him. The kiss, it says it all... forgiveness! The tears fell from not only Jacob's face, but also Esau's.

Can you believe it? Esau is not angry. He doesn't hate Jacob. In fact, Esau is happy to see him! Welcome home!

Side note... I can only imagine, had Jacob returned with a different spirit, a chip on his shoulder, things would have been quite a bit different. Had Jacob returned home with an "attitude" it may have been a totally different reception.
When you obey the voice of the Lord and walk in humility, God will take care of you.

"Who are all of these people that are with you", Esau asked.
"They are my family... my wives, my maidservants, and my children", replied Jacob.
"What is up with all of the flocks and herds that you are trying to give me?" said Esau
"They are gifts for you. I am giving them to you, hoping that you will let me find favor in your eyes.", Jacob said. (I believe that I heard an "I am sorry" in that. Did you?)

Esau's answer is amazing (verse 9-12)...
"I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.... Let us be on our way...".

Did you see what I saw?
I noticed something when Jacob tried to give the gifts to Esau...
Jacob continued to refer to Esau as "my lord".
Esau referred to Jacob as "my brother".
Jacob refers to his brother with a title of service, of subordinance...
Esau's refers to his brother with love and relationship.
Is it possible that Esau has had more of a heart change than Jacob?
Esau is the one who was wronged. He is the one who was manipulated into giving away his birthright for a bowl of stew. He is the one who had his father's blessings, blessings of God, stolen from him by the deception of his father. And now, he is the one who is welcoming his brother with totally unconditional love and forgiveness.
Esau didn't say "You can come home if...".
He simply ran to his brother, embraced him, gave him a kiss, and said let's go home!

To me, Esau is a perfect picture of how God loves us!

No matter what we have done...
No matter how wrong we have been...
No matter how bad we have done Him...
No matter...
No matter...

God comes running to us with His arms open wide. He hugs us. He gives us a big kiss. And, He says, "I am so glad to see you! Let's go home!
Oh yeah, I don't need all of the stuff that you are trying to give Me. All that I want is YOU! I am just glad that you have come home to Me! I love you! Welcome home!"

Thank You Jesus for Your love!
Thank You for Your forgiveness!
Thank You for the fact that both of them are mine, and they are mine unconditionally.
I know that I DON'T deserve either of them.
But, I know that they are mine because You love me!

Times have been really tough lately, Jesus.
I pray that You will help me to stand...
During times when it is hard to stand, I pray that You will help me to stand...
During the times when I don't want to stand, I pray that You will help me to stand...
Even during the times when I refuse to stand because of hurt, anger, resentment, rebellion, whatever the reason, I pray that You will forgive me and that You will help me to stand!
Jesus, Your word says, "Having done all, ... stand".

Jesus, help me to stand!