“You no longer swagger in false strength; you limp in God’s power. You need fear Esau no more. God has gone ahead of you. He has prepared the way and paved the path. Your Esau, your past, is now your brother. Embrace him. And weep for joy.”- Max Lucado
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”- 1 John 1:9 (ESV)
Max Lucado concludes Chapter 9 of God Never Gives Up on You with the observation that when Jacob and Esau met, they wept for relief and with forgiveness. Because they anticipated a new start, a fresh beginning. Above all, Pastor Lucado stresses, Jacob wept because as he came face-to-face with his past, he discovered his past held no power over his life.
Furthermore, Max exhorts, like Paul we must trust God with our future and move on. Because God’s work provides the remedy for our sin. As a result, Max encourages, take your guilt in your hand as if it were a stone. And hand it to Jesus.
In conclusion, Pastor Lucado tells the story of Paul Hegstrom. Paul accepted Jesus’ invitation. Within a week of his marriage, Paul started beating his wife– on an almost weekly basis. And when children came, Paul beat them as well. Finally, after sixteen years of marriage, his wife threw in the towel. She walked out.
However, the divorce failed to serve as a wake-up call. Only a woman’s threat to file attempted murder charges got Paul’s attention. To find the root of his anger, he sought counseling. Most significantly, Paul met with God.
Hence, Paul’s life took a new direction. Paul began rebuilding relationships he had destroyed. And through the long process, his ex-wife fell in love with him again. They remarried.
Thus, Max concludes:
“You can’t move past your past without God’s help. Apart from him, you will justify it, deny it, avoid it, or suppress it. But with God’s help, you can move forward.”
Today’s question: What Bible verses help you see your Esau (past) as your brother? Please share.
Tomorrow’s blog: “Squandered our inheritance”
