Connect
Take a moment to find a gift you have received from someone you care about. Can you show it and tell the story behind the gift?

Engage
This week’s sermon focused on the journey of a man who offended his brother. Jacob had stolen his brother Esau’s blessing, the inheritance of the firstborn. He ran away because of threats on his life and didn’t communicate with his brother for 20 years.

Did Jacob know that he had wronged his brother? How do you think it affected his daily life?

Jacob’s story is covered in great detail after he fled from Esau, spent his time with Laban, and built up a large family. Esau’s story isn’t told in as many words but he went through 20 years of growth as well.

Read Genesis 26: 34-35 for part of Esau’s backstory. Now read Genesis 28:1-9 which occurs after Jacob stole Esau’s blessing. Do you think Esau was an innocent victim in this story?

Esau had threatened to kill Jacob before Jacob fled the country, but his actions 20 years later were to run to his brother, embrace, kiss and weep with him.
Think about Esau’s journey from hate to embrace. What do you think had gone through his heart during that time?
Esau met Jacob with 400 men, what do you think were Esau’s intentions with that?
What do you think changed Esau’s heart?
Jacob bowed before Esau seven times, a gesture of submission to a king. What does this say about Jacob’s heart at this moment of meeting Esau?
What did the prodigal’s father and Esau have in common?

Apply
Romans 3:23-24 says “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

The story of the prodigal son has striking parallels to the story of Jacob and Esau. The one who had left was coming back and seeking the forgivenenss of the ones who remained at home. He was received with an undignified run, an embrace, and a kiss.

When we know we have offended someone, what makes us wait so long before coming back?
When seeking forgiveness, why do we think that gifts must be offered in order to deserve it? When someone is seeking your forgiveness, what do you want to receive from the one who offended you?

Who do you need to seek forgiveness from or accept forgiveness from this week?

Pray
Lord, may we bow seven times before you as we acknowledge that You are God. We are deceitful and we don’t want to take responsibility for our sins. You have the power to destroy us and yet You have used your power to raise Jesus from the dead, showing us that our sins are paid for and we can join Jesus in eternal life. We thank you for forgiving us. We have nothing to offer but our submission to you and your embrace. Amen