Forgiveness invokes God’s favor in ways we can’t begin to imagine. How? Forgiveness acts to lift a yoke of bondage and releases God’s blessings. Look at both the Hebrew word (nawsaw) and Greek word (afeeaymee) used in the Bible for the word forgive. Both convey a dual sense of lifting or removing and releasing forward. In reality, forgiving acts to lift off or put away negative effects of anger and cursing and lift up or release forth blessings! It works in a parallel way as repenting; which means to turn away from (sin) and turn towards righteousness—God’s right order and way.
RELEVANCE
The Bible tells a story in Genesis 27 of Jacob tricking his blind father Isaac into giving him the blessing intended for Esau. As you can imagine, Esau was infuriated. The Bible says he hated Jacob and vowed in his heart to kill him. The New Testament says in Hebrews 12:17 that Esau found “no place for repentance, though he sought it diligently with tears.”
What would be the outcome for both? Jacob worked for his uncle Laban for 21 years enduring various trials before being released to begin his perilous journey back home to come into his inheritance. On the course of that journey, he and Esau have a surprise opportunity to cross paths. As they meet several interesting things transpire.
First, we see fear rise up big time in Jacob as he sees Esau and a large company of 400 men in the distance. As Jacob approaches Esau he bows seven times; an extreme act of reverence. Esau responds by falling on his neck and kissing him; also a surprising expression of love. We see quite a different scene than the last one two decades earlier!
So what does Jacob do? Acknowledging God’s favor over the years, He offers a huge gift to Esau—the one from whom he stole his father’s blessing. How does Esau, the one who vowed to kill his brother, respond? First, he rejects his offer, acknowledging how he has been blessed with abundance. After a bit of encouragement, he accepts Jacob’s gift.
So while Esau had not been able to immediately find a way to repent, he did over the course of time come to a real change of heart. Somewhere along the line, he came to peace. He obviously came to the place of forgiveness. He had, therefore, experienced God’s favor and blessing of abundant provision.
Both, therefore, had come to a change of heart. Where there had once been treachery and bitterness, mercy and loving-kindness found a place of rest. Both experienced God’s favor and blessing in ways neither would have imagined two decades earlier.
REFLECT AND RELATE
What obstacles do you suppose may be blocking God’s favor? Ask God for grace to soften your conscience and open your heart to repentance—a genuine turning from former thoughts, attitudes and sentiments to righteous ones that can be applied through faith—trusting in God. In Jesus’ love, such grace can be found.
REFERENCES
Romans 5:1-5