Grace

The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Jacob, really? Jacob stole his brother's birthright, and - with the help of his mother, Rebecca - his brother's blessing. Then, when essentially running away so his brother can't kill him, he gets yet another blessing from his father, Isaac. As if to add insult to injury, in Genesis 28 beginning at verse 10, Jacob then gets a blessing from God. It would be so satisfying to have God punish Jacob for all he's done, wouldn't it? Our sense of justice is turned upside down. Doesn't God know what Jacob has done? Doesn't God care?

It's easy to put ourselves in Esau's shoes - to be the victim. But, if we're honest, we are more often self-serving, and deceitful, like Jacob. More often God blesses us in spite of our selves, and our sin rather than because of anything we have done right. After Jacob's dream of God 's promise to bless him and watch over him, Jacob's heart begins to change.

20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear 21 so that I return safely to my father’s household, then the Lord will be my God 22 and this stone that I have set up as a pillar will be God’s house, and of all that you give me I will give you a tenth.” (Gen. 28:20-22)

Eventually Jacob even seeks forgiveness from his brother.

What if we chose to see others from God's point of view rather than from Esau's place of victimization? What if we understood that love, patient nurturing, and time will do more to bring about a positive change than punishment and retribution?

God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; God of the oppressed and the oppressor, save us by your grace.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;

if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,

if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me,

your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me

and the light become night around me,”

12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;