How brothers can reunite and put the past behind them

The story of Jacob and Esau — two brothers who were together in the womb  yet separated beyond belief — is very sad indeed. 

Yet, when the hearts of brothers are not knitted in unity, they will breed contention between them.

Also, when parents have favourites, it is possible that brothers will grow to dislike each other, because of the actions and/or inactions of their parents.

Jacob stole the Birthright and the Blessing. Yet, as he escaped for his life, he received absolutely no benefit from having either of them — because he experienced the effects of his choices.

In Laban’s house, Jacob reaped what he had sown.

Jacob loved Rachel but he was tricked into marrying her less lovely sister, Leah.

The one whom Jacob loved was not able to birth. He had stolen the Birthright, but the love of his life was not able to give birth.

Jacob had stolen the blessing and while he was in Laban’s household, all of the blessings he acquired actually belonged to Laban.

Simply put, you cannot do wrong upon wrong and think that you will not suffer the consequences of your purposeful wrong.  You will.

On the other hand, Esau, who had been wronged, experienced many blessings and many births. The great thing is that they were his possessions. They belonged to no other.

Genesis 33:9 And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.

Note that Esau did not approach Jacob with a ‘you owe me’ attitude. As a matter of fact, those brothers had changed a lot since they had last seen each other.

Genesis 37:3 And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.

Jacob respected Esau.  Oh what a change that had taken place.

Jacob gave his elder brother the respect and honour that he had never given him when they lived in the same household.

Forgiveness

Jacob humbled and submitted himself to Esau. That was surely a change in the mindset of Jacob.

Now look at Esau. Esau ran to his brother and embraced him.

Esau did not attack him. No, a change had taken place inside him.

While those brothers were separated, they matured and considered their ways.

They had reached a place where they were willing to let go of the past.

Esau was willing to forgive and Jacob was seeking forgiveness.

The brothers wept. Their tears were ‘reunion tears’; they were ‘let’s let the past remain in the past’ tears.

That moment testified that they had missed being connected.

The twins touched each other with hugs. It had been a long time since they last occupied the same space, and that moment was a ‘womb-moment’.

Picture it. It was almost as if they were one more time in amniotic sacs, right next to each other, in their mother’s womb.

The brothers reunited because of their love for each other and their need to move on from their past wrongful deeds.

That is what needs to take place in Bermuda.

Brothers and cousins need to release each other from the ‘prisons’ in which they have placed each other.

It is only by doing so, that both families can come together and have a peaceful family reunion.

Don’t let your past mistakes keep you from your future blessings.

Respice finem.

Dr Maria A Seaman is the pastor of Shekinah Worship Centre, North Shore Road, Hamilton Parish.