Genesis 33:4-5

I know, I know, I skipped a lot of people & a lot of history. We learn so much about Jacob and we know that he is the father of the 12 tribes of Israel. But, have you ever thought about what Esau, his twin went through?

Isaac is Abraham & Sarah’s son. He married Rebekah. They have a sweet love story in Genesis chapter 24. In the next chapter we see Isaac & Rebekah have twins. Esau was the first born. In Jewish culture, first born sons inherited everything. The family land and money was just handed to them when their father died.

One major thing, in my opinion, that Isaac & Rebekah did wrong, was to have favorite sons. Isaac favored Esau; Rebekah favored Jacob. Besides that, Esau's biggest mistake was selling his birthright for food. (See Genesis 25:27-34)

Just before Isaac was about to die, as Jewish custom, he wanted to bless Esau. Jacob & their mom pulled a fast one and tricked Isaac into blessing Jacob instead. Genesis 27:33-38 shows Esau’s emotional breakdown. That was when Jacob ran!

Of course, the Bible then goes on to tell us about all that Jacob went through and his wives & children. But then! (The plot thickens! Who said the Bible was boring?) Jacob got tired of living under his father-in-law and wanted to go home. SO, he had to face his brother. After all those years and the heartache he caused Esau, he could have been met with a war. Jacob sent gifts to Esau first. You know, to butter him up and make him not angry anymore. Our verses are about their reunion and how Esau was happy to see his brother, sister-in-laws, nieces & nephews.

Esau was resilient and went through his adult life positively. He could have become angry & bitter. He could have wanted revenge and to kill his brother. He overcame all of the dark things that could have held him back. He must have had influence with an army of 400 men and he tried to not accept Jacob’s gift of flocks of animals. I think Esau ended up doing well & being resilient!