But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.
Genesis 33:4 NIV
Jacob cheated Esau out of his birthright and the father’s blessing reserved for the eldest son. Jacob’s act changed both their lives forever. Esau hated Jacob for his deception and betrayal. His anger ran so deep that he planned to kill Jacob, and would have had Jacob not fled for his life. Jacob stayed away for twenty years and then started for home even though he feared Esau. What a surprise when Esau ran to meet him and threw his arms around Jacob. He had forgiven Jacob even though his betrayal had been a cruel one.
Forgiveness isn’t always easy. Sometimes the hurt is deep and the pain lingers for a long time. The other person seems to get on with her life while you suffer. Esau could have hung on to his anger and killed Jacob when he saw him coming. Instead, he took the first step and ran to meet Jacob, forgiving him. We, too, can take the first step toward forgiveness. In doing so, we let go of the pain we’ve been carrying. We find freedom for ourselves and offer the same to the one who hurt us. Is there someone you need to forgive today? Take the first step toward reconciliation. God will give you the strength to go the full distance.
Lord, give me courage to take the first step toward forgiveness even if it’s the other person’s fault. Amen.
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Today’s reading was adapted from Daily Wisdom for Women: 2017 Devotional Collection with permission from Barbour Publishing, Inc. All rights reserved. Reading was written by Vickie Phelps.