Bitter Fights And Sweet Turn Outs…. Series

Bitter fights and sweet turn outs….

Life of Jacob –part 4

Genesis 33: 10 “ And Jacob said, “No, please, if I have now found favour in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me.”

Today is the final lesson from the life of Jacob. Forgiveness has become a lost art. Now everything is about revenge, getting even, making someone pay. As we meditate the life of Jacob, I think that we will find the awesome power of forgiveness in today’s text. I am absolutely sure that many of you will have a life transforming experience through these teachings. The transformation process often involves the tearing away of our old self and the creation of a new self - one that reflects God’s character. Paul beautiful says in Colossians 3:10” we have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him.” Powerful scripture indeed! I feel sad when I hear some believer’s speech rather than being seasoned with salt and grace is sometimes oozing with revenge and bitterness. Sadly it reveals that we need more of God in our life.

In Genesis 32 we find Jacob preparing to meet his brother Esau. How scared Jacob would have been! He had tricked his brother Esau and deceived him. God allows problems, fears and crisis in the life of Jacob in order to mend him and mold him. Many of us do not see the crisis situation that we are facing now as ‘blessing’ from God because we are short sighted and we are unable to see the big picture that God has planned for each one of us. Listen today!

Jacob could not face his trial, the Bible says that “Jacob was very afraid.” We all face such situations! Jacob could not face his trial, so he decided to face His God. He went face down and cried “Oh God of my father Abraham..” (Genesis 32:9) Come on, let us turn to our God who chose us and who will hear our prayers. Let us weep lifting up our voice loud to Him and Him alone. It is high time, you set aside quiet moments to fast and pray to God with a loud voice! Jacob had been carrying around some unresolved issues for years. He knew he had done wrong. He had experienced the consequences of those wrongs. And he had learned from them. He was now a stronger person. God had given him a new name and a new life. But there was something left undone. He had not sought forgiveness from Esau. God sometimes holds on to the answer to your prayer because you are holding on to some grudges and bitterness. FORGIVE AND FORGET! Anybody listening?

Jacob feared that when he meets his brother Esau, he would kill him because of the huge army of 400 men along with him. But let me tell you something, God has power to change the circumstances upside down. Do you believe? Now, watch the effect of Jacob’s wholehearted prayer, “And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him and they wept. (Genesis 33:4) I am totally shaken as I type this scripture, I love the way Esau fell on Jacob’s neck, I can imagine both the brothers weeping, sobbing and cuddling each other! If you turn to God seeking his help in any particular matter, He would surely turn bitterness into sweetness! With the long standing bitterness resolved with his brother, oh, the freedom that Jacob experienced must have been awesome! Someone out there desperately needs to seek forgiveness from another. Someone said, “When we face God before we face any situation we fear, we will be able to see God in that situation”. Jacob says in Genesis 33:10 …I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God.

Today if you feel you are alone, distressed, let me tell you, God has permitted you to be alone in order for you to cry out to Him. BEFORE YOU ENTER NEW YEAR, GO TO GOD. When you go to Him, He will change your situation completely.

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