Genesis 32 and 33 tell the story of the reunion of Jacob and Esau, twin brothers who had not seen each other for about twenty years. In fact, Jacob had to flee from the wrath of a brother that he had betrayed. It is true Esau had been rather inconsequent; but it was not enough to justify the craftiness of his brother. Esau may not have measured the scope of his actions when he exchanged his birthright for a soup, but Jacob knew what he was doing and even added to his deceit by stealing the father’s blessing. After this, Esau swore his death and Jacob had to run away (Gen 25.29-34, Gen 27).
Time had passed; but in spite of his wives, children and wealth, Jacob had obviously never found peace. Indeed, on his way back to his country, when he heard that Esau was coming to meet him, he got scared and prayed: “Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children.” (Gen 32:7 & 11). When you’ve hurt someone, you know it; and even if nobody knows about it, you fear to meet with that person.
The rest of the story is in Genesis 33. Esau seemed to have completely forgotten what drove them apart; instead, he took his brother in his arms and cried: he had missed Jacob. We often think that the people we have offended are still angry against us while they have long since forgotten and moved on. Esau told Jacob: "I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself." (33:9) The same God who had promised him through his father that he would break his brother’s yoke from his neck, had enlarged and blessed him.
Anyway, Jacob attributed the success of their meeting to a specific spiritual principle. As he feared for his life and that of his children, he decided to send Esau 200 female goats, 20 male goats, 200 ewes, 20 rams, 30 milking camels and their calves, 40 cows, 10 bulls, 20 female donkeys and 10 male donkeys; thus, a total of 550 animals in order to appease his brother (vs. 32:20) ! He told him: “…Receive my present at my hand: forasmuch as I have seen thy face, as one seeth the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.” He had learned that “a man's gift makes room for him and brings him before the great.” (Prov 18:16).
The spiritual principle in question is that of restitution. The Law required to the one who was guilty of perjury or theft to make restitution in full and add one fifth to it; i.e. 120% (Lev 6:5, Nu 5:6-7). In the New Testament, Zacchaeus did even better and decided to make a fourfold restoration (400%) to those he had defrauded of anything. Because of this gesture, and even though people were still calling him names, Jesus declared that salvation had entered into his house as he was indeed a true son of Abraham (Lk 19:1-10). This same Jesus will later tell some other Jews who were convinced they were the children of the patriarch that they were rather the sons of the devil (Jn 8:39-44)! ‘Pious’ guys are sons of the devil and a sinner is a son of Abraham: the first will really be the last...
Jacob had deprived Esau of his birthright; yet, the eldest son was entitled to a double portion of the inheritance. The 550 beasts he offered to his brother were his way of making restitution. He couldn’t have paid 120% of what he defrauded because this happened before the promulgation of the Law of Moses; but the spirit of restitution that had led him was enough to redeem and help him find favour with Esau, inasmuch as it was enough to ‘sanctify’ Zacchaeus.
2012 will be a year of miracles and grace; but we will not go very far and won’t see many miracles if we do not settle all our accounts. Indeed, the Lord told us to go and reconcile with our brethren before bringing our offering to the altar (Mat 5:23-24).
2012 is far too precious for us to let anything deprive us of what it has to offer: let’s ask for forgiveness from those that we have offended; let’s pay our debts and let’s make restitution to those that we may have cheated. If we do not have the means to pay, let’s pray the Lord who searches the hearts and sees our sincerity, to give us the means to do so: He will do it.
God bless you and once again, Happy New Year!
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