Genesis 33: 1-17
by Rev. Carson Overstreet
Van Wyck Presbyterian Church
August 13, 2017
Now Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two maids. He put the maids with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. He himself went on ahead of them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near his brother.
When Esau looked up and saw the women and children, he said, ‘Who are these with you?’ Jacob said, ‘The children whom God has graciously given your servant.’ Then the maids drew near, they and their children, and bowed down; Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down; and finally Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down.
Esau said, ‘What do you mean by all this company that I met?’ Jacob answered, ‘To find favour with my lord.’ But Esau said, ‘I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.’ Jacob said, ‘No, please; if I find favour with you, then accept my present from my hand; for truly to see your face is like seeing the face of God—since you have received me with such favour.
Please accept my gift that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have everything I want.’ So he urged him, and he took it.
Then Esau said, ‘Let us journey on our way, and I will go alongside you.’ But Jacob said to him, ‘My lord knows that the children are frail and that the flocks and herds, which are nursing, are a care to me; and if they are overdriven for one day, all the flocks will die. Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will lead on slowly, according to the pace of the cattle that are before me and according to the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.’
So Esau said, ‘Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.’ But he said, ‘Why should my lord be so kind to me?’ So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house, and made booths for his cattle; therefore the place is called Succoth. - Genesis 33: 1-17
The story of Jacob and Esau is a story of reconciliation. Last week we learned reconciliation means that parties divided by conflict come together through a meaningful exchange to end the hostility between them.
The first step for us to begin reconciling with another is to first be reconciled to God. This internal work is the hard work of the soul. God’s grace grapples with our past so that we unbecome everything we thought we were to find our true selves. This is the first meaningful exchange that mends our separation from God. The work of God’s grace frees us to begin the journey of facing the conflict at hand with another.
Knowing this from his experience, Jacob was taking the next steps in the light of God’s grace. After Jacob had seen the face of God the Spirit was preparing him to see Esau’s face.
I would love nothing more than for Genesis to give us a glimpse into the way God was preparing Esau for this moment. Scripture is silent on that backstory and yet we trust God has also been untangling Esau’s internal emotions to guide his next steps. The author of Genesis cuts to the chase to focus on the brothers’ encounter.
The gap of twenty years began to close as Esau ran to meet Jacob. The fists that had long been enclosed with the rage were opened to embrace Jacob. The brother who had been betrayed was ready to let go of his anger. Strife was redefined by mercy. Esau fell on Jacob’s neck and a kiss symbolized a willingness to restore their relationship. The brothers wept. And in that moment a gift of grace flowed free to forgive the past and yield a future with hope.
John Paul Lederach is a respected peacebuilder. He says, “Reconciliation is like a journey: where there might have been flight away from each other, it then becomes the daring trip back. Walking with humility and vulnerability, it is a journey toward and through the conflict, bringing God’s love into the world through who we are and how we walk.”
God led the brothers to make the daring trip back to participate in the hope of reconciliation. As they stood on this holy ground they both brought God’s love into the world as a gift to one another.
Jacob prefaced the encounter by sending the gift of 500 livestock to Esau as a peace offering to find favor (Genesis 32:13-18; 33:10). Jacob approached Esau in humility with his posture and words (Genesis 33:3,8). Jacob allowed himself to be vulnerable telling Esau that seeing him was like seeing the face of God. Jacob confessed God had been at work in his life and in this situation (Genesis 33: 11).
Likewise, Esau approached Jacob with a willingness to let bygones be bygones. Esau allowed himself to be emotionally vulnerable with Jacob. And Esau accepted Jacob’s gift without judgment or blame.
It is in this liminal space – the point between the broken past and the hopeful future – that the brothers embrace their common humanity. It is an emotional picture that captures some genuine marks of reconciliation. Without these marks, even partial reconciliation is not possible.
Scripture reveals the brothers showed a genuine respect for one another. They were willing to be fully present with each other in that space. They both accepted what had been done for the good and the bad of the situation. They were both given the ability to set aside their differences to move forward towards unity.
Scripture also reveals that the brothers did not fully reconcile. Esau invited Jacob to journey onward together so that he may go alongside Jacob (Genesis 33:12). Walking alongside one another is a significant illustration of two parties coming together to gain mutual understanding and end the hostility that was between them. But Jacob declined Esau’s invitation for reasons we do not know.
The work of reconciliation is not easy. It challenges how we respond to conflict in our lives.
When conflict is met with an authoritative voice and a high hand it breeds hostility and polarizes relationships.
When conflict is avoided from the fear of confrontation it allows the problem to lie stagnate in the water, resolving nothing.
When we respond to conflict by keeping the status quo to maintain relationships and avoid stirring things up then we minimize the problem and foster resentment.
The gospel reframes conflict as an opportunity to pursue God’s desire and will for reconciliation. God’s Word opens our eyes to see conflict as a space where peace is missing. The Word calls us to see this as an opportunity to join God in this holy work of restoring peace. We do this by building trust, fostering mutual understanding, and holding each other accountable in humility.
A ministry colleague shared at Montreat Youth Conference this summer, “The gift of bearing peace into broken relationships helps us to live into the tension” even when full reconciliation is not attainable.
That nugget of wisdom stayed in my mind as the youth and I potted clay together. The piece that I made broke in half after it had fully dried. I was tempted to throw it away but a friend told me of the Japanese art of Kintsukuroi, repairing broken objects with a glue-like substance and gold leaf. This Japanese art says there is value and honor in restoring what is broken.
That gold line which restores two broken pieces is nothing less than the gift of God’s mercy and grace. The mark of reconciliation does not make excuses for the damage or injuries incurred. But that mark does illumine the hope for the jagged edges of life to be smoothed and covered by forgiveness.
The broken pieces of life can be reunited and strengthened in the wisdom of learning from the past and our mistakes. They may not align perfectly or be just like they were before. But that gold line is a path that marks peace and reconciliation as a new direction to live into.
Reconciliation is a peace that God initiates and calls us to participate in. It is offering grace filled moments just as Christ has already covered us in the grace of forgiveness and second chances. Even when full reconciliation is not possible, God’s grace is never wasted.
May God open our eyes to see the hope of reconciliation in our brokenness within our homes, community, and wider world. Wherever peace is missing, you and I are being called to trace the line of God’s grace to mend the bonds of humanity.
Love always leave a mark to give us a future with hope.
In the name of God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.
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