Jacob Sees the Face of God AGAIN

     Jacob has kept moving toward the one he had offended. He has placed his family in as much a place of safety as he can. Now, the moment arrives. He is face to face with Esau. How was he received by the offended? Esau, the potential murderer, had come to fully welcome his brother. Upon this reception Jacob wept. It is good at this point to see some tender feeling manifested in Jacob. The Father had definitely been working on his emotions and his guilt little by little. And, sure, Jacob was still Jacob, but definitely a softer, more gentle man. Jacob the natural man did every thing he could to humble himself before Esau even to the point of bowing seven times. How surprised do you think Jacob was when he got that hug?
     In Matthew 18, Jesus describes in detail how one of his followers should handle the difficulty of having offended someone. It is our natural inclination to avoid such an encounter fearing a terrible outcome. We, like Jacob, feel "I have seen thy face as though I have seen the face of God." Truly God is in these times--we are fearful of approaching the offended, but fearful of God in not doing so. It is a beautiful thing when the offended receives well and accepts our difficulties and fears in taking this action. Jacob and Esau were the issue of the same parents, both had come from their mother's body. As Christians, it is especially important for us to remember that we are all a part of the Body of Christ. We must examine our actions to see if they have led to offenses and handle them face to face as Jesus said knowing that the face of God is importantly present at these times. The body of Christ is not to be rendered asunder and left to languish according to God. The miracle of forgiveness with all its' inherent healing should, indeed must, be allowed to work.