Genesis 32:13-21
My cousin, Bob Lewis is a preacher and his call was not to the Bible belt but to California where a pastor gets the same amount of respect as the door to door vacuum cleaner salesman. Often my aunt would share with my mother, how hard it was for Bob and Debbie, his wife, to minister in that environment, but that was where God had planted them. They also scraped to make house and car payments and put food on the table for themselves and their two small sons.
This is where the story gets interesting, their TV broke and Bob used money they did not have to fix the TV and a few days later the oldest son who was three or four years of age broke the TV. Debbie told him that his dad was going to be very upset and would deal with him when he got home. How does that tie into Jacob trying to appease Esau by sending his servants in waves ahead of the group with presents for Esau?
Bob’s little boy and Jacob had the same problem, they had done harm to a close relative, and both are fearful of that person and what they would do to them. Jacob sends gifts and hopes to appease his brother, but this small child who I’m sure worried all day long, did not send servants, did not bring a gift, I’m sure he had none. No this small child’s action was brilliant; he stole his daddy’s heart, with words. Waiting at the window watching for his daddy’s car to turn into the driveway, he jumps out the front door and runs right into his daddy’s arms; and these are the words that came out of the child’s mouth, “Daddy, I love you and I appreciate you, and I’m going to pray for you.” The offense, the broken TV was not fixed, but my cousin’s heart was very tender to his small son’s love and repentant spirit. Our Loving heavenly Father had gone ahead of the presents of Jacob, and the fear of this young child to soften the heart of the older brother and my cousin. If only we will learn to run, each day, in total dependence to our heavenly Father.
From the Back Porch,
Bob Rice
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