Jacob And Esau Meet Again

Jacob and Esau Meet Again

Q: How many times did Jacob bow before his brother?

• a. 2
• b. 7
• c. 10

Jacob wasn’t sure how his brother would feel about seeing him again, so Jacob sent his servants ahead to tell Esau he was coming. The men returned with the news that Esau was on his way with 400 men. Jacob feared for his family, so he divided them into two groups. That way if Esau’s men attacked one group, the other group could escape.

Then Jacob began selecting gifts for Esau. What gifts would you give someone who might still be angry with you after many years? Jacob chose 200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams, 30 female camels with their young, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys, and 10 male donkeys. He sent his servants ahead with the gifts.

The next day Jacob saw Esau coming toward him. Jacob bowed to the ground seven times in front of him. Jacob didn’t need to worry about Esau being angry with him. Esau was happy to see him.

Jacob had assumed that Esau was still angry with him, but Esau had changed just as Jacob had. Esau had forgiven Jacob and let go of the bitterness he felt toward his brother years earlier.

It’s natural to feel angry when someone wrongs you, but God wants you to forgive. Holding a grudge doesn’t help anyone. You can only find peace when you let go of the anger and make the decision to forgive the other person. Forgiving someone means you let go of the right to be angry or to get even. That’s what God asks of you.

For You

Are you angry with someone for wronging you? Ask God to help you let go of the anger and decide that you will forgive the person, even if that person isn’t sorry. You will have peace instead of bitterness in your heart.

Answer: b

As he approached his brother, [Jacob] bowed to the ground seven times before him.   Genesis 33:3

(The Whole Story: Genesis 32:6-16; 33)