°°Get past the PAIN of those who wronged or deceived you.

–Jacob decisively cheated his brother Esau of his BIRTHRIGHT and BLESSING!

“Esau said, “Isn’t he rightly named Jacob? This is the second time he has taken advantage of me: He TOOK my BIRTHRIGHT, and now he’s taken my BLESSING!” Genesis 27:36 NIV

–This occurrence really made Esau angry 😡.

“Esau held a grudge against Jacob because of the blessing his father had given him. He said to himself, “The days of mourning for my father are near; then I will kill my brother Jacob.” Genesis 27:41 NIV

–Jacob fled, for a while to his uncle Laban. (“Stay with him for a while until your brother’s fury subsides.” Genesis 27:44 )

–Jacob ended up working for his uncle Laban for 20 years. [**He met a more experienced DECEIVER**]

“This was my situation Jacob says (*while working for uncle Laban*): The heat consumed me in the daytime and the cold at night, and sleep fled from my eyes. It was like this for the twenty years I was in your household. I worked for you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks, and you changed my wages ten times.
(Genesis 31:40‭-‬41)

–After 20 years of hard labour he planned to go back home. But was fearing Esau was still holding a grudge against him.

“But when Esau saw his brother from a distance he was overjoyed: “Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.” (Genesis 33:4)

Esau respectfully turned down Jacob “gift” by saying:

“I already have plenty, my brother. Keep what you have for yourself.” (Genesis 33:9).

–For Esau it was NOT 20 years of holding a grudge, anger and bitterness. But 20 years getting PAST his PAIN – anger and grudge. But also, healing and hard work.

–When their father Isaac died, (old and full of years – 180 years) his two sons, Esau and Jacob buried him. (Genesis 35:28-29)

–Esau had long moved on past his brother’s deception.

Stolen water/inheritance/birthright, positions and “blessings” obtained deceptively is not sweet.

“Jacob said to Pharaoh, “The years of my pilgrimage are a hundred and thirty. My years have been FEW and DIFFICULT, and they do not equal the years of the pilgrimage of my fathers.” (Genesis 47:9)

Grace and Peace to you,
Chaplain Stephen.