Thursday, February 21, 2013

Genesis 33 - Cost of Peace

As we begin this chapter, Esau is coming toward Jacob with 400 men. Apparently neither brother knew what to expect from the other. Both are prepared for the worst. Jacob divides his family to protect them against any wrath Esau might have had toward them.

After seeing wave upon wave of gifts from Jacob, Esau is softened and comes to greet his brother. He asks what is meant by the droves and Jacob frankly states he wants to buy the favor of his brother.

While the reunion wasn't hostile, there is still mistrust between them as Jacob did not join his brother in Seir as he promised but settled in Canaan.

The price of reconciliation is rarely without cost. This is why maintaining peace is so vital. If Jacob had only done the honorable thing 20 years prior this would have never been an issue, but strife was created and it needed to be rectified.

In our lives, sin creates strife between ourselves and God. No amount of good deeds and tokens can make up for the division our sin creates. God outlines how impossible it was to bridge the gap by giving us the Old Testament law. This was not mere rules for living but a picture of how perfect you would need to be to restore fellowship. No one is that righteous. It was only when God's only Son took the form of a man and paid he price to reconcile us that we have any hope.

Like the waves of animals given to soothe the wounds between Jacob and Esau, Jesus paves the way for you and I to have a relationship with the Father. He paid our price of peace.

Perhaps you have a person in your life that has broken fellowship. As children of the Father redeemed by Jesus, we shod likewise pave the way for peace wherever we can. Consider what you can do to restore fellowship and be a walking testimony of Christ's love for us.

May God richly bless you as you seek him and as you serve him.

No comments:

Post a Comment