SHARON’S STRANGE FAVORITE VERSES #2

Genesis 35:29
And Isaac gave up the ghost, and died, and was gathered unto his people, being old and full of days: and his sons Esau and Jacob buried him.

How I love this verse! Let me tell you why.

When I read the story of Jacob and Esau, it makes me sad. I hate the deceit and the selfishness and shallowness. I don’t like the mom’s part in the story of the birthright and I don’t like the dad’s part either. The conflict between Jacob and Esau is intense, and I think it’s even more intense than we in the western world can comprehend.

Genesis 27:41 pretty well sums it up: And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.” Esau’s level of hatred was high, understandably I think, because Jacob’s level of deceit was very high. Add to that the rustling behind the scenes of Rebecca and the blindness of Isaac, what results is an era in a family that left them separated and fearful and damaged. It is no wonder that Jacob ran for his life.

When you follow the story, there is great evidence of the work of God in each of these people. When you get into the chapter where Jacob and Esau meet up again, you can’t help but be on the edge of your seat to see how these two long-time estranged brothers will do. Jacob is scared. He divides his family into two groups so that Esau, who it has been reported was approaching with 400 men, might only wipe out one.

Instead this. And he (Jacob) passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. Oh, what time and our great God can do to enormous disturbance in our lives and in our kids’ lives! Jacob and Esau could have ended their days divided, bitter and without each other. Instead, both of them, came upon their meeting with tender hearts and like Joseph, who wept when he saw the brothers who had been ready to murder him and as a second choice, sold him into slavery, they wept tears of gladness to see each other again.

So, the day that I read that Isaac’s sons, Esau and Jacob, buried him, there was a deep amount of blessing. It could have been one of them alone. Had they not reconciled, it would have been. Instead, both of his sons were together at a time when they should have been. I love reconciliation. Nothing pleases me more than to hear that two people have laid aside their often justifiable griefs for the sake of peace.

I never took note of the verse in Hebrews 11 that mentions Jacob and Esau until I took up memorizing that chapter recently. It reads: “By faith, Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau concerning things to come.” I want to say, “How cool is that?” but it probably isn’t appropriate for someone my age! But...what a great slightly hidden truth is in that verse!

I’ve known of people who hung on to their antagonism and missed precious events, never to be offered again. I encourage you to make choices now that will allow you to be with your “brothers” and “sisters” when it comes time …“to bury your father.”