Reconciling

"Have mercy upon me, O Lord; for I am weak: O Lord, heal me; for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O Lord, how long?" Psalms 6:2‭-‬3. We all come to points in our lives when we're desperate for change. Our bones/physical self is exhausted as well as our soul/spiritual self. Whether it be to solve a problem, or for something exciting to happen, we all want to see things take a turn for the better. As the Psalmist David said above, "How long?" How long will we have to endure the season we're in?

As we discussed before, it's easy to take matters into our own hands as Jacob did and try to produce a certain outcome; however, when we trust in God and put ourselves aside, even greater things happen. Finally in this passage, Jacob learns this lesson (and so does his brother Esau!). Reconciling is better than revenge.

Peaceful change in reconciling is better than vengeful change which would continue to be problematic. Before Jacob ventures back to his kindred to make things right with Esau, he actually learns to reconcile first with his uncle & father-in-law, Laban:

"Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee. And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar. And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap." Genesis 31:44‭-‬46. A familiar pattern put to good use once again! Laban suggests to make a covenant, and so Jacob of course searches for stones. He wants a solid representation of what's about to take place. This is the covenant:

"And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed; And Mizpah; for he said, The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another. If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee." Genesis 31:48‭-‬50.

The Lord will watch & be a witness! In reconciling and returning control to God, Laban & Jacob realize they'll be much better off. Instead of being deceitful toward each other, it was better to set an honest covenant in place. Another pattern which subtly repeats itself in this section is dreams/visions. After Jacob has another vision of angels, he realizes God is on his side, and it's time to also reconcile with Esau.

"And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my Lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now: And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my Lord, that I may find grace in thy sight. And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him."
Genesis 32:4‭-‬6.

Yikes! Probably not what Jacob expected. Dealing with Esau wasn't going to be the same easy-going experience as with Laban...or was it? Genesis 32:7 does mention that Jacob was afraid, but does he turn to revenge? No! He still has plans to reconcile. Jacob's character was starting to change, and with the change in character came a change in identity:

One night on the journey back to Esau, a dream did not take place. Jacob had an in-person experience with God! Genesis 32 describes this scenario. Jacob wrestled all night with a manifestation of God. This climactic moment demonstrated and officialized Jacob's change and surrender to God. First, he was humbled physically: "And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him." Genesis 32:25.

Then came the complete 180-degree change: "And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed." Genesis 32:28.

Finally, it was time. Israel had all that he owned and loved go before him as he went to meet Esau. It was a peace offering, or if things went badly, maybe even a sacrifice and a loss. Either way, he was a changed man, and he was intent on reconciling...and then the best possible outcome happened!

"And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept." Genesis 33:4. Two brothers who wrestled with one another in the womb, finally reunited and reconciled, all after Israel wrestled with God and allowed God to control his outcomes. Turned out to be the best plan yet!

No more deceiving. No more revenge. Just reconciling. Do you ever ask yourself "How long will I endure this season of life?" Could it be that God is asking you to make a personal change and reconcile with someone? Instead of trying to control our crazy lives, let's allow God to take over and help us to make things right!