Jacob and Esau Reconciled

Introduction: Jacob lived with his uncle Laban for 20 years. When Jacob returned he had 11 sons and one daughter. Here is the story from God’s word. Now Jacob returned from living with his Uncle Laban , and he sent messengers before him to say to Esau, his brother; “Your servant Jacob sends a message to tell my lord that I am returning that I find favor in your sight. And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you with four hundred men.” Then Jacob was greatly afraid and he prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and truth which You have shown unto me; for with only my staff I left home, passed over this Jordan; and now I have become two companies. Deliver me, I pray from the hand of my brother Esau for I fear that he will come and attack me, and the mothers with their children. You said You will surely do me good, and make my descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude. So Jacob sent a present to Esau his brother; Two hundred goats, and two hundred sheep, twenty male goats

and twenty male sheep, thirty camels with their colts, and forty cows and ten bulls, and twenty donkeys. And Jacob commanded the servants to say to Esau “These are a gift sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, Jacob is coming behind us. So the present was sent before him. That night, Jacob took his wives, and children and sent them over the Jabbok River. And Jacob was left alone. And there came a man who wrestled with Jacob until the break of the day. When the man saw that he could

not overpower Jacob, he touched Jacob’s hip and knocked the hip out of joint. And the man said, ‘Let me go, for the day breaks.’ And Jacob said, “I will not let you go, except you bless me.” And the man said, “What is your name?” And he said, Jacob. And the man said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but you will be called Israel: for you have strength like a prince with God and with men. And the man blessed Jacob there. And Jacob said, “I have seen God face to face, and yet I am alive. And as Jacob passed over the river the sun rose upon him, and he was limping because of his hip. Then Jacob lifted up his eyes and saw Esau coming with four hundred men. And Jacob bowed himself to

the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. And Esau lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, “Who are these with you?” And Jacob said, “The children which God hath graciously given your servant.” And Esau said, “What is the meaning of all this livestock you sent?” And Jacob said, “These are to find favor

in your sight my lord. And Esau laughed and said “Brother I have plenty, keep what you have.” But Jacob said, “No, if I have found favor in your sight, please receive this gift from my hand for when I saw your face, it was as though I had seen the face of God because you were pleased with me.” And so Jacob urged him and Esau took the gift. And so Esau returned to his home in Seir.