🚼 Great Ordeal 🚼
Jacob prepares to meet Esau whom he had deceived 20 years back. He was filled with fear. So he divided all his animals and and all his people into two groups worried that Esau may attack them. He prayed to God to save him. Then he prepared a gift with different animals for Esau and sent them ahead of him. First he sent his family across the stream with all his possessions.

🔸 Encounter with God 🔸
Jacob was left alone.That night God in form of a man wrestled with him till day break. At day break he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip which was wrenched. He said that in future his name would be Israel. Then he blessed Jacob and left. Jacob named that place Peniel because he had seen God face to face, yet his life was spared.

👨🏻‍🦱 Meets Esau 👨🏼‍🦰
Jacob saw Esau and bowed down seven times. But Esau ran towards him and embraced him and kissed him and they wept. Jacob asked him to accept his gift and said seeing him was like seeing the face of God. Jacob did not continue the journey because his family and all the animals needed rest. Esau went back.

🔰 Returns to Bethel 🔰
God asked Jacob to go back to Bethel and build an altar. All the foreign gods were buried under the oak. At Bethel he built an altar and called it El Bethel. This was the place God revealed himself when he was fleeing from his brother. God blessed Jacob.

🚸 Reaches Canaan 🚸
After 20 years Jacob came back to his father who was still alive. At an old age he passed away and Esau and Jacob buried him. By God’s grace the brothers were reconciled. Jacob continued to live with his family at Canaan.

🤝 Reconciliation 🤝
Children of God should never harbour hatred and misunderstanding in their hearts. Christ in His mercy has forgiven us and in turn we should be Christ like and be reconciled with those who have hurt us by word or deed.

Mrs Caroline Chellappa 📝
Chennai