Joel M Bradshaw

18And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city. 19And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem’s father, he bought for a hundred pieces of money the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent.20There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.–Genesis 33

Chapter 33 describes Jacob’s journey home and an encounter with Esau. Last we checked, Jacob had deceived their father and gotten Esau’s blessing. Esau seemed to have wanted to previously kill Jacob and so Jacob left town. Returning, Jacob knew he would face Esau. How did Jacob handle such a moment?

1. HUMILITY. Jacob and his entourage bowed down before Esau seven times. They also bowed directly before Esau.
2. OTHERS-FOCUSED. Jacob brought items to materially bless Esau and seems to have been very generous in doing so in order to specifically find favor with Esau.
3. GRACE. Jacob received the genuine emotions of Esau and the grace shown from victim to villain.

Jacob then bought land and erected an altar that reflected his new name God had given him. He didn’t name God the God of Jacob, but of Israel. Jacob had not only once seen God’s face, but had just seen the powerful grace of God at work in his most broken relationship.

As you offer amends, stay humble. Own what you can and should own. Stay focused on the other person rather than on yourself and seek to be a blessing to them rather than in justifying yourself. Humbly receive their response to you even though you cannot control it. Land your plane with gratitude to God.–JMB