Today’s reading: Genesis 33:1-5
As I was thinking through the entire scenario of Jacob and Esau reuniting, the first words Jacob speaks to Esau touched my heart. I kept going back to them. Because Jacob is on the move with all of his family, servants, and possessions (it was a large caravan), Esau asks Jacob who all the people are with him as soon as they meet. Without hesitation, Jacob replies in a way that is quite telling.
“And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, ‘Who are these with you?’ Jacob said, ‘The children whom God has graciously given your servant.'” (vs. 5)
Jacob could have conveyed to Esau that this large group of people and possessions were his using many other descriptive words, but he didn’t. Instead, his immediate and default response highlighted God. Jacob chose to give God the credit for all that he had. I love how in less than a few seconds, Jacob is able to communicate to Esau—first and foremost—that he is a follower of and relying upon God and, as a result of this, that he is a changed man.
When someone asks you about your life and the things you have—your family, your positive attitude, your job, things you possess, etc.—is your default response to give God the credit (and in so doing open the door to sharing God’s love through salvation in Christ with them)? How intentional are you about highlighting God as being your provider and the director of your life? Tami
Source: Tami’s Blog
