A Lineage of Reconciliation

Jacob and Esau’s long history

Jacob and Esau even wrestled in the womb (Genesis 25:22 “The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord.”)

There was tension in the family throughout their lives (Genesis 25:28 “Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.” )

Jacob swindled Esau out of his birthright (Genesis 25:29-34)

Jacob swindled his father to get Esau’s blessing (Genesis 27:41 “Now Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing with which his father had blessed him, and Esau said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are approaching; then I will kill my brother Jacob.””)

This is a relationship that has been a lifetime of turmoil; we have to wonder if there was ever a moment when Jacob and Esau were not fighting or in tension. I wonder how it effected their families; the Bible does not give us a direct answer to that; but as many of us know, if the adults in the family are fighting it often brings turmoil to the children, even if we try to avoid it.

The alienation

IT As Isaac is passing from this life Jacob is fleeing to Haran with his uncle Laban. He spends the next 20 years of his life working for Laban, marrying his wives, and having children, until he runs out of favor with Laban, and he flees form him just as he fled from Esau. Great pattern, right?

It becomes obvious to Jacob that it is time to return to Canaan. Now remember, a lot has changed in 20 years; Jacob is a wealthy man with a lot of clout. But there is one thing that has not changed; his brother is still Esau and there is still tension.

So what does he do? He decides to do some recon. In Gen 32:3-5 he sends some messengers to Esau to inform him that Jacob is coming.

And what do the messengers say? Genesis 32:6–8 “And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him.” Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps, thinking, “If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the camp that is left will escape.””

And Jacob then turns to the Lord- in Gen 32:9-12 and in 22-30 God meets with him and wrestles him- and Jacob is never the same.

The Change

Genesis 32:27–28 “And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.””

Jacobs new blessing, and new identity are confirmed and the story of God’s people Israel is born. In this one night God opens up the generational story of the nation of Israel, God’s people that will be the central part of the entire OT and lay the foundation for Jesus’ ministry.

Chapter 1

And what is the first thing that God places in the face of this new blessing and identity? Reconciliation.

It was time for Jacob to own up to the swindling and manipulating. It was time to turn a new path.

Friends. I believe that there are some people in this place today that have been given a new name; he has given you a new blessing and set you into a new direction; but you need to take the next step today- there is someone in your life you need to reconcile with, someone you need to connect with in a new way- and you will be missing the destination that God has in store for you because of your sidestepping of your purpose….

Three Powerful Words

Often the only time we want to talk about reconciliation is when someone has done us wrong. The first thing God had Jacob do after wrestling with him was wrestle with the results of his sin. God puts Jacob in a place to initiate reconciliation for things he did.

How many of us can easily ramble off a list a of people that owe us an apology or people who have done us wrong, but fail to think or consider that perhaps there are others we need to be reconciled with as well?

Matthew 5:23–24 “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.”

The emphasis is placed on us to make reconciliation if we know that a brother or sister has something against us.

We often say that the three most powerful words in the English language are I Love You- and that is probably true. But high on my list of powerful 3 worded phrases is “I Was Wrong”

You see when we say I was wrong we release ourselves from trying to pretend to be perfect

I was wrong empowers the other person to forgive

I was wrong opens up space for God to do a work.

Generational Change

In order for Jacob to get to Canaan he had to face Esau. If he was to get where God was calling him to be this moment had to happen.

I wonder, how many times is this true for us as we follow Jesus- in order to get where God wants us to be we have to address this hard relationship, we have to address the brokenness we caused that is staring us in the face.

Jacob could have turned back- which is what some of us do. We avoid the hard. We know that there is brokenness with someone and when we see them we avoid them or the tension as much as possible. Have you ever seen the person and jumped down the next aisle at Walmart?

Jacob could have declared war- which is what some of us do. We figure that we should brace ourselves for battle and the best thing to do is get the upper hand.

Here’s the thing, church- how will the Christians who follow us; the young people of this church; the young people in your family; the new Christian that is watching you- how will they learn how to deal with hurt and conflict? By watching YOU.

How we deal with conflict as the adults in the church will teach our young people how do deal with reconciliation in the church.

How you deal with conflict in your family will teach the kids in your family how to deal with reconciliation in their family

How you deal with conflict at work will teach the younger Christian who is watching you how to deal with reconciliation in their lives.

Dr. John R. Rice, a great evangelist now with the Lord, was asked to conduct a revival meeting at a Baptist church in Woodbine, Texas. Divisions and strife had broken the heart of the pastor until he had resigned and left. The county missionary, hoping to see the church revived and God’s work made prosperous, asked Dr. Rice to come and preach the revival services. He found the whole community divided. One or more deacons had had fist fights in the quarrel that had reached nearly every home. Many had taken a vow never to return to the little church.

Dr. Rice never did find out most of the details of the division. But with a burden in his soul, he preached against sin, urged God’s people to clean up their lives, and pleaded with them to make peace with their neighbors. Night after night he preached. Those who had been angry at others were now angry with him.

One morning, a woman in the community started to make a telephone call to tell Dr. Rice just what she thought of all his meddling in their affairs. But her nineteen year old son stopped her and said, “Mother, you are wrong! I have just been out in the woods to pray. I know Brother Rice is right. If we Christians do not get right with each other, we can never have a revival. I for one am going to try to get right.” His mother did not make the phone call.

In the next service, Dr. Rice called for a time of testimony. With tears streaming down her face, one woman rose to beg forgiveness of another woman with whom she had quarreled. The other woman swiftly rose and came to meet her. They put their arms around one another and wept in the aisle. Confessions came from all parts of the building. The deep moving of God was upon the people as they began to make restitution, ask forgiveness, and seek Christian fellowship again.

That afternoon the news went like wildfire. That night the little church building was crowded. People came to church who had not been there in months—some who had vowed they would never enter the building again. From the very beginning of the service the Holy Spirit was there. Dr. Rice preached the Gospel, and at the invitation men and women accepted Jesus as their Saviour with tears streaming down their faces. Dozens of people were saved, hundreds of Christians were revived, and people came from miles to fill that little church for the rest of the meeting that lasted four weeks