THE GIFT OF RECONCILIATION

RECONCILIATION

The story of Esau and Jacob reads like a juicy novel. The brothers were born to Isaac, the sons of Abraham. When Isaac is near death, he desires to give to Esau, the older of the two brothers, his blessing.

Today, we bless things all the time, and it means approval or acceptance. But in biblical times, a blessing was to grant another a place of honor and status.

You've heard it said of some people, "Everything he touches turns to gold." That's the kind of reward that comes to one who has received the blessing. And, usually, the blessing is given to the firstborn son. In this case, that is Esau. Yet, as the story unfolds, at the scheming of his mother, Rebekah,

Jacob, the younger son, tricks and deceives his father, Isaac, so that the blessing is given to Jacob, whose name by the way means "he deceives."

Imagine the shock and horror that Esau feels when he learns of the deception.

(Summarize )

IT BEGINS WITH GOD -

Genesis 32:1 ESV

Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

GEN

DO YOU EVER WONDER WHAT THOSE ANGELS SAID TO JACOB?

When we seek to enter his presence, he reveals to us those relationships that are broken and prompts us to make them right.

2.Reconciliation  comes before reconciliation with God

THE ANGELS APPEARED TO JACOB TO LET HIM KNOW - WE TODAY HAVE THE HOLY SPIRIT

Those angels showed up for a reason. That reason, I believe, was to inform Jacob that before things can be right with God they have to be right with his brother.

If you want reconciliation with God you have to be reconciled with one another. Here's the principle: You can't live in harmony with your Heavenly Father until you are living in harmony with your human brothers and sisters. Broken ties with one another not only sever relationships with one another; it also severs the relationship with God.

3.Reconciliation must be intentional

Genesis 32:3–5 ESV

And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom, instructing them, “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: Thus says your servant Jacob, ‘I have sojourned with Laban and stayed until now. I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, in order that I may find favor in your sight.’ ”

GEN

Here's the question:

Could it be that some of our relationships are lived in grinding silence because we are unwilling to take the initiative in beginning the process of reconciliation?

grinding silence because we are unwilling to take the initiative in beginning the process of reconciliation?

IV. Reconciliation must be bathed in prayer

Genesis 39:9–12 ESV

He is not greater in this house than I am, nor has he kept back anything from me except you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness and sin against God?” And as she spoke to Joseph day after day, he would not listen to her, to lie beside her or to be with her. But one day, when he went into the house to do his work and none of the men of the house was there in the house, she caught him by his garment, saying, “Lie with me.” But he left his garment in her hand and fled and got out of the house.

Genesis 32:9–12 ESV

And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’ ”

V. Reconciliation demands humility

On that morning after all these years, Esau and Jacob met. Jacob, the Scripture says, ". . . bowed to the ground seven times until he approached his brother" (). That act is a posture of humility. Jacob humbled himself before his brother. He came with the right spirit and the right attitude. He acknowledged that he had done the wrong. He was the deceiver. He tricked his brother out of his blessing. He was at fault.

Reconciliation requires vulnerability

WHERE POSSIBLE A FACE TO FACE MEETING IS NECESSARY

Here's the principle: Reconciliation will never happen until the heart is exposed.

Now, here is the rub. Whenever you expose your heart you stand the chance of having your heart broken, again. People will let you down, disappoint you, trample your emotions.

Crawling into a shell, living in isolation, would be easier. There, safe from the pain and hurt of relationships, you could shut out all of humanity.

Could it be that you have been hurt so deeply that you don't want to expose your heart again? Do you want to live that way?

Here's the question: Do you want to go through life living in a cocoon, safe from the hurtful arrows of others, but cut off from the relationships that give you love and life and joy?

Biblical reconciliation is the process of two previously alienated parties coming to peace with each other. Because God has reconciled us to himself through Jesus Christ, we can reconcile with each other, no longer counting our offenses against one another.

Forgiveness is not optional in reconciling a broken relationship. Here's the principle: Forgiveness involves letting go so you can get on with the rest of your life. It is not probation, but a pardon. Forgiveness means that we do not require any money, words, or actions as payment. It means that there will be no continuing resentment or bitterness. We hope for the best for the other.

https://www.lifeway.com/en/articles/sermon-steps-to-reconciliation-jacob-esau-genesis-33