Esau and Jacob

In the household of Isaac, the prophecy regarding the boys that the 'elder (Esau) would serve the younger' (Jacob) must have been common knowledge known to all, including Esau and Jacob.  I believe it was because of this knowledge that Jacob asked for the birthright from Esau.  And it must have been for the same reason that Esau was so careless about his birthright.  Jacob did not want to wait for God's time or God's way but took matters into his own hands and grabbed the birthright!  Later we see Rebekah taking matters into her hand, making Jacob cheat Isaac into getting the blessing Isaac meant for Esau.  She knew of God's prophecy, but again she did not wait for God's time or God's methods.  Isaac also knew the prophecy of God, but as a father, his heart wanted to bless his firstborn!  No matter what or how it happened, God's plan of divine election rested on Jacob. 

When God asked Jacob to go back to his father's place, the thought of Esau's anger must have tormented Jacob.  In twenty years, both had changed.  Jacob was once a cheat and a grabber but now brought gifts for Easu. Esau had also changed.  We read about the reunion of Esau and Jacob in Gen 33:4.  The Bible says, "Esau ran to meet Jacob; fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept."  Esau must have understood God's plan for their lives, which helped the reconciliation process.  Our own flesh and blood might have wronged us.  After all, God's blessing to each one is different.  One cannot grab another's blessing.  God-ordained path for each one's life is different.  You cannot live my life, and I cannot live yours!  Esau must have understood this, which was the basis for the reconciliation.  We have to look at life as a gift from God, a path explicitly ordained for us, then we can understand that God blesses each one differently.  And that should not be the reason for hard feelings, envy, and unforgiveness because these can become the stumbling block in our lives, blocking God's blessing.  

My friend, let us surrender our lives entirely to the Lord, knowing His will for our lives is the best.  The Bible says, "The blessing of the LORD makes one rich, and He adds no sorrow with it" (Proverbs 10:22).

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