Forgive 7/19/09

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

Gen 33:4 (NKJV)

Please, take my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough." So he urged him, and he took it. Then Esau said, "Let us take our journey; let us go, and I will go before you."

Gen 33:11-12 (NKJV)

The story of Jacob and Esau. I think we've all heard of it. Jacob wanted Esau's birthright, but couldn't have it since he wasn't the oldest and the firstborn. So, Jacob cooked up a plan, (pun intended), while Esau was out hunting, Jacob decided to make him a stew. He correctly thought that Esau would be hungry when he came back. So Esau came back and asked for some of the stew. Jacob said that he could have some if he handed over his birthright. So, Esau foolishly decided to do so. Then, Jacob and his mom made another scheme for Jacob to actually be blessed and receive the birthright personally from his father. So, that went well. If you can call sin good. (You can't). Jacob then ran away, so he could not be there when his brother returned. Smart. And so Esau was of course angry for a few years, but then when Jacob came back to visit his family, I'm sure he was kind've nervous and all, but Esau had forgiven him of everything that Jacob had done to him.

Do I forgive others, even if they do the worst thing imaginable to me?

Am I constantly in an attitude of forgiveness?