#92 Imminent Genesis 32

So he lodged there that same night, and took what came to his hand as a present for Esau his brother: two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty milk camels with their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals. Then he delivered them to the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, "pass over before me, and put some distance between successive droves." And he commanded the first one, saying, "when Esau my brother meets you and asks you, saying, 'to whom do you belong, and where are you going? Whose are these in front of you?' then you shall say, 'they are your servant Jacob's. It is a present sent to my lord Esau; and behold, he also is behind us.' " So he commanded the second, the third, and all who followed the droves, saying, "in this manner you shall speak to Esau when you find him; and also say, 'behold, your servant Jacob is behind us.'" For he said, "I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me." So the present went on over before him, but he himself lodged that night in the camp. Genesis 32: 13-21 NKJV

Still nervous about the meeting with Esau, that draws imminently closer, Jacob sends gifts of livestock in waves before him. He is hoping to squash the thunder of the past and appease the anger he remembered when he left. Jacob has talked to God, but it has still not occurred to him to pray for his brother and the restoration of the relationship. It was probably never a great relationship since they were always polarized by their parents, but God is able to sow where men would shake their heads. 

"Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother." Matthew 18:15 NKJV

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them. Then you shall dwell in the land that I gave to your fathers; you shall be My  people, and I will be your God. I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. Ezekiel 36: 26-29 NKJV

It is easy to see ourselves in the wrong light, and to think we have had something to do with what we now see. The same God, who opened my eyes and softened my heart, can work to restore my brother. Otherwise I have not understood what I believed, nor have I credited the God who has authored my own salvation. I pray that my arrogance subsides, my heart grows soft, but that the truth grows strong within me. I pray that all whom I meet, I will love, and that God will reveal Himself to those I love. Search my heart, oh God, like the Psalmist prayed, and see if there be any wickedness, and lead me in the way everlasting.