DON'T BE SO KIND TO ME
Today's reading: Genesis 32-35

"Well, Esau said, at least let me leave some of my men to guide and protect you. There is no reason for you to be so kind to me, Jacob insisted." Genesis 33:15 NLT

Fear. Guilt. Shame. Regret. Weariness. Sadness.

Imagine all the feelings pent up in this meeting of brothers.

After all the years.

After all the turmoil.

After all the deceit.

After all the miles that had separated them.

But now they are reunited. Their relationship mended. Their family together again.

Esau was forgiving but Jacob couldn't accept the whole gift of it due to the conflict in his heart.

He couldn't let Esau do this one thing, provide him troops for a safe journey, because Jacob still remembered what he had done and still declared himself unworthy of kind treatment.

Don't we do that to God?

Do we accept His blessings in certain areas, but not in other--others that we feel we need to still feel the sting of regret in because we were so wrong in doing them in the first place?

Do we still deny His guidance out of a situation, because we were the ones who got us in it to start with?

Do we still cringe when He loves on us more than we feel comfortable accepting, because deep down we know how dirty some parts of our lives still are?

God walked farther than Esau did to meet Jacob.

God offers us more protection, provision and peace than Esau could have ever offered Jacob.

God knows more about what we've done than Esau knew about Jacob's conniving tactics.

God's forgiveness is deeper, wider, higher and longer than any forgiveness Esau could offer Jacob.

So let's accept it from Him. Wholeheartedly. In every area of our lives. Let's allow Him to make us worthy of the gift He's giving.