自从雅各和以扫分开到如今，已有二十年了。当初，以扫威胁要杀害他弟弟，雅各就逃命走了。我们能理解，一想到再次见面，雅各就很紧张，尤其是以扫带了400人一起来。
但是，尽管雅各很害怕 ，他还是尽力想掌控局面（1-3，8节）我们看到他有了一些变化。他更谦卑了，意识到自己的礼物不能最终博得以扫的喜爱。很有可能，雅各与拉班的纠葛帮助他意识到自己很久以前对哥哥犯的重大错误。他现在认识到，他所有的一切都是出于神的恩典，他也认识到，他需要以扫的恩典才能与其和好。
我们许多人都与有过摩擦的家人，朋友或其他人关系紧张。或许我们知道和好的必要，只是不知道如何去做。但人际关系总是需要恩典。我们无法控制别人怎么待我们，我们只能给予恩典，并享受别人给我们的恩典。
同样的，我们的罪已经破坏了我们和神的关系，再多的计谋也无法修复这关系。然而在基督里，神出人意外地，满有怜悯地拥抱了我们。为此，我们只有献上感谢，享受神给我们的恩典。
恩慈的神，感谢你因耶稣的缘故，接受并拯救你任性的儿女——并拥抱我。阿们。
创世记 33:1-17
1雅各举目观看，见以扫来了，后头跟着四百人，他就把孩子们分开交给利亚、拉结和两个使女，
2并且叫两个使女和她们的孩子在前头，利亚和她的孩子在后头，拉结和约瑟在尽后头。
3他自己在他们前头过去，一连七次俯伏在地，才就近他哥哥。
4以扫跑来迎接他，将他抱住，又搂着他的颈项与他亲嘴，两个人就哭了。
5以扫举目看见妇人孩子，就说：“这些和你同行的是谁呢？”雅各说：“这些孩子是神施恩给你的仆人的。”
6于是两个使女和她们的孩子前来下拜，
7利亚和她的孩子也前来下拜，随后约瑟和拉结也前来下拜。
8以扫说：“我所遇见的这些群畜是什么意思呢？”雅各说：“是要在我主面前蒙恩的。”
9以扫说：“兄弟啊，我的已经够了，你的仍归你吧。”
10雅各说：“不然，我若在你眼前蒙恩，就求你从我手里收下这礼物。因为我见了你的面，如同见了神的面，并且你容纳了我。
11求你收下我带来给你的礼物，因为神恩待我，使我充足。”雅各再三地求他，他才收下了。
12以扫说：“我们可以起身前往，我在你前头走。”
13雅各对他说：“我主知道孩子们年幼娇嫩，牛羊也正在乳养的时候，若是催赶一天，群畜都必死了。
14求我主在仆人前头走，我要量着在我面前群畜和孩子的力量慢慢地前行，直走到西珥我主那里。”
15以扫说：“容我把跟随我的人留几个在你这里。”雅各说：“何必呢？只要在我主眼前蒙恩就是了。”
16于是，以扫当日起行回往西珥去了。
17雅各就往疏割去，在那里为自己盖造房屋，又为牲畜搭棚，因此那地方名叫疏割。
"Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him. . . ." - Genesis 33:4
Twenty years had passed since Jacob and Esau had seen each other. Back then, Esau had threatened to kill his brother, and Jacob had fled for his life. We can understand that the idea of meeting again made Jacob nervous, especially since Esau came with 400 men.
But while Jacob is afraid and still trying to control the situation (vv. 1-3, 8), we can see that something has changed in him. He is more humble and realizes that his gift cannot ultimately win Esau's favor. Quite possibly, Jacob's struggles with Laban have helped him to realize the great wrong he had done to his brother long ago. He now acknowledges that all that he has comes only from God, by grace, and he recognizes that he needs grace from Esau if they are to reconcile.
Many of us have strained relationships with family members, friends, or others we have wronged. Perhaps we recognize the need for reconciliation but aren't sure how to go about it. But relationships are always by grace. We cannot control how others respond to us; we can only show grace and enjoy the grace shown to us.
In a similar way, our sin has ruined our relationship with God, and no amount of scheming on our part can restore us. But in Christ we find the unexpected and merciful embrace of God. And for this we can only give thanks and enjoy God's grace shown to us.
Gracious God, thank you for receiving and restoring your wayward children—for embracing me—for Jesus' sake. Amen.
诵读: 骆云秀
片头: 张妙阳
