“I worked for you through the scorching heat of the day and cold and sleepless nights. Yes for twenty years I slaved in your house!” Genesis 31:40-41. Tensions were running high in household of Laban. His son-in-law Jacob became very angry and challenged his father-in-law, Laban. After twenty years of labour and trickery at the hands of his father-in-law, Jacob lost his cool! No wonder, he had served Laban seven years to have Rachel as his wife only to be tricked into first taking the older woman, Leah as his first wife. Another seven years of work finally won for him the love of his life, Rachel. In addition, Laban manipulated Jacob into another six years to earn a flock of his own. Twenty years away from the land of his birth, yet Jacob had one more obstacle to face before his dream of returning home could be realized.
Tensions were running high in household of Laban. His son-in-law Jacob became very angry and challenged his father-in-law, Laban.
You see, for twenty years, Jacob has not spoken to nor seen his twin brother Esau. They had a major falling out two decades previously partially due to Jacob’s own trickery and partially due to Esau’s flippant attitude toward those matters of life that have lasting value. Esau plotted to kill his brother and his brother ran to another country to protect himself. Now Jacob was heading back home with the uncertain hope that his warrior brother might or might not receive him. It became evident that twenty years of separation (and reflection) was enough time for both brothers to see the errors of their ways and they were finally reconciled. “As Jacob approached his brother, he bowed to the ground seven times before him (Esau). Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, threw his arms around his neck, and kissed him. And they both wept.” Genesis 33:3-4. Jacob’s humility and Esau’s forgiveness won the day! “I am sorry” and “I forgive you” are two three-word phrases that open the door to reconciliation. Welcome home!