Jacob has been a shrewd trickster all his life He tricked his twin brother Esau out of his birthright and his father’s blessing. He’s had to run from his family because his mother tells him that Esau wants to kill him. He’s found out what it feels like to be tricked and cheated, too, in Laban’s household when he discovered that he had married Leah and not his heart’s choice, Rachel. He has left deep enemies behind him all his life. Yet he has prospered and has wealth, wives, children and many cattle.
But now he hears that Esau is headed his way with 400 men. He is terrified. Alone in the desert, he wrestles with a man until daybreak. When the man sees that he cannot defeat Jacob and that dawn is coming, he demands to be let go. Jacob says, “I will not let you go until you bless me.” The man tells him, “Your name is now Israel, for you have wrestled with God and with humans and you have prevailed.” Jacob realizes he has been wrestling with God!
Now, the new day brings his enemy, his brother, closer and closer. Jacob sends gifts ahead of him for Esau, droves and droves of valuable animals, thinking to sweeten Esau’s hatred by bombarding him with generosity. And then Esau is here. Jacob puts his wives and children between Esau and himself as his brother approaches, hoping that Esau’s anger will be quelled by the sight of women and children.
At last, the brothers are face to face. Esau runs to meet Jacob, embraces him and falls on his neck and kisses him. They weep together. Esau has forgiven Jacob, still loves him, and covers him with grace. Twice in this one day, Jacob has seen the face of God: once as he wrestled and a second time when his brother forgives him.
Jacob had no right to expect that Esau would ever forgive him. In the rhythm of sin, confession, and forgiveness, Jacob hasn’t really asked for forgiveness, though he has shown that he feels terrible guilt and fear. Esau skips ahead in the order of things and goes straight to forgiveness. Though he has been greatly wronged by Jacob, Esau shows a generosity of spirit.
In that same way, God shows us great generosity of spirit, forgiving us, welcoming us, and embracing us, even though we have wounded Him deeply with our sin. The true face of God is that bright face of deep love and forgiveness and open arms held out to catch us and embrace us.