Jacob and Esau

It would be an understatement to say that Jacob and Esau had a troubled relationship. They both coveted and were jealous of their father's attention, inheritance and blessings. After twenty years apart, Jacob found himself facing his brother and all of the old, bitter feelings rising to the surface once more. Fearing for his life and the lives of his family, Jacob wrestled all night with the Lord, demanding, once again, a blessing. When Jacob and Esau meet the next day, Jacob offers him a large portion of his wealth. The blessing that Jacob receives is to realize that God is a God of abundance, that he does not have to struggle over limited resources and anger and alienate his family in the process. Esau sees that just because his brother was blessed, that does not mean the Lord will not bless him also, and through Jacob, he receives far more than likely either Jacob or Esau could have imagined when they were haggling over birthrights and messes of pottage as young men. Like Jacob, it is important to fight for what we most value, but as the Lord showed Jacob, it does not always have to be a struggle and it is not always a zero sum game and sometimes family is more important than material wealth.