Then Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two maids.
He put the maids and their children in front, and Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last. But he himself passed on ahead of them and bowed down to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.
Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. Genesis 33:1-4
When we were kids we played a game called Stratego It is a military game where each piece is a person with a value 1-9, or a special designation as a bomb, flag, or spy. To win you must disguise the identity and location of strategic pieces. Jacob fears that Esau, the betrayed brother, still hates him and will forcibly take all he possesses. So like a Stratego game, he sends gifts to placate his brother, then people of lesser value, holding back Rachel and Joseph, his favorites. All of this maneuvering is from his lacking faith.
It almost appears that Esau’s faith has developed more significantly than Jacobs! I wonder how many of us try to strategize our way through life instead of taking God at His Word and believing His promises.
How evident is my faith? How well has my faith developed as God has proven Himself to be faithful?
God, as this day begins, I want to walk in your ways and be available to do your will. Help me complete my chores and prepare for school and still minister to Your people and my family.
