Honey From The Rock

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Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

A CHANGE OF HEART

This entry was posted on 03-16-2010 and is filed under STUDIES IN GENESIS.

Jacob was afraid. He had just received word that his brother Esau, whom he had tricked out receiving the birthright, was on the march with 400 of his finest men. The hunt was on for Jacob! "Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed" (Gen. 32:7 ESV). Well, who wouldn't be afraid? Esau hated Jacob and had vowed to kill him. Now it looked like it will all come down on Jacob's head.

It is no fun to live in fear. Fear, anxiety, and worry are the unholy trinity of too many Christians. Instead of trusting God, we give into our inner fears. I've been told that 90% of what we fear never comes to pass. Most of it is in our head. When Christ is in the heart, fear will leave the head. Back to the story. The dreaded day arrived. The first thing Jacob saw that morning was his brother and 400 men on the horizon. Jacob split up his family, putting the servants in front of them for protection. Then, "He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother" (Gen. 33:1-3). Was this what changed the heart of Esau? Or had Esau already had a change of heart? For the next verse says, "But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept" (Gen. 33:4). This is one of the most tender verses in Genesis. Notice ~ "and they wept." A change of heart in Esau changed the day for Jacob and his family. Oh, how many estranged family members today (even in the church) need that change of heart! How different things could be! Let God change your heart today.