“But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept” (Genesis 33:4).
Years earlier Jacob had coerced Esau to sell him Esau’s birthright and conspired with his mother Rebekah to steal Esau’s blessing from his father Isaac. After experiencing this, Esau hated his brother Jacob. Now 20 years later Jacob was returning home. Jacob greatly feared Esau and was concerned Esau would want revenge.
The verse above shows Esau had finally forgiven his brother. Esau is not typically depicted as a very honorable character in the Bible. His descendants would be enemies of Jacob’s descendants for years to come. But in this instance, Esau demonstrates the forgiveness we should strive to practice towards those who have wronged us.
May it not take us 20 years to let go of the pain others have caused us. May each of us remember we also have caused pain to others. May we remember today and every day that our Savior Jesus Christ died to pay the price for the pain we caused God by our sins. May this humble us so that we can practice towards those who have hurt us the same forgiveness God has shown us.
“And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)