It Takes Humility 这需要谦卑
Dexu Xia
[Jacob] bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother. Genesis 33:3
Today's Scripture Genesis 33:1-10
Today's Insights The rift between Jacob and his brother Esau began when Jacob first stole Esau’s birthright and then through treachery gained the blessing his father had intended for his older brother Esau (Genesis 27:27-36). Esau had vowed to murder Jacob in revenge (v. 41). In Genesis 32-33, Jacob sent ahead of his traveling party many gifts, hoping the gifts would soften Esau’s anger (32:13-21). When Jacob finally encountered Esau face to face, he said, “Please accept the present that was brought to you” (33:11). The word translated “present” here is literally “blessing,” the same word used for the blessing Jacob stole from Esau (27:35-36). In this way, Jacob emphasized that he recognized how he’d harmed Esau and desired to make amends. Today, as we humbly seek to bring healing to our broken relationships, God will help us.
Today's Devotional My cousins, who lived only two miles away when we were growing up, weren’t allowed to interact with my family. They never came to reunions or talked to us at the local grocery store. Their parents said it was because, back then, we didn’t attend church and we’d be a bad influence on them. What a surprise when many years later, a cousin attended my eldest brother’s funeral! He approached us one by one and humbly apologized for their attitude. Our relationship with him began to be restored.
Jacob needed a humble heart to seek restoration with his twin brother, Esau. Jacob, the second born, had connived against Esau: He stole his brother’s birthright (Genesis 25:19-34) and deceived his elderly father into giving him the firstborn’s blessing (26:34–27:40). Furious, Esau threatened to kill him, so Jacob had run to another country.
Years later, Jacob wanted to return home but was afraid the deep division between him and his brother wouldn’t be resolved without bloodshed (32:6-8). When he and Esau finally met, he humbly “bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother” (33:3). He feared Esau would kill him, but instead Esau came running “and embraced him” (v. 4).
Whether we’ve harmed another or have been harmed, it takes humility, openness, and often much work to heal the brokenness. But God can and will help us.
Reflect & Pray
What relationships in your life might need restoration? How can you start the process?
Dear Father, please keep me from holding grudges or becoming bitter and help me forgive others and ask for forgiveness. By Ann Cetas
[雅各]向他哥哥以扫俯伏在地七次。（创世记 33:3）
今日经文：创世记 33章1-10 节
今日洞见：雅各和他哥哥以扫之间的裂痕始于雅各先是偷走了以扫的长子名分，然后又用诡计夺取了他父亲原本要赐给哥哥以扫的祝福（创世记 27:27-36）。以扫发誓要杀死雅各作为报复（41节）。在创世记 32-33 章中，雅各在自家行进的队伍前面给以扫送去了许多礼物，希望这些礼物能平息以扫的怒气（32:13-21）。当雅各最终与以扫面对面相遇时，他说：“请收下我送来的礼物”（33:11）。这里译为“礼物”的词，字面意思是“祝福”，与雅各从以扫那里偷来的祝福所用的词相同（27:35-36）。雅各以此强调他意识到自己伤害了以扫，并渴望弥补。今天，当我们谦卑地寻求修复破裂的关系时，神会帮助我们。
今日灵修：小时候我的表兄弟们住在离我们家只有两英里的地方，他们却被禁止与我家的人来往。他们从不参加我家的家庭聚会，在当地的杂货店遇上我们也被禁止与我们说话。那是因为那时我们不去教堂，他们的父母害怕我们会给他们带来不良影响。多年以后，一位表兄弟竟然参加了我大哥的葬礼！这真是出乎我的意料！他逐一走到我们面前，谦卑地为他们小时候的态度道歉。我们与他的关系才开始修复。
雅各需要有一颗谦卑的心向哥哥认错，才能寻求与他的孪生兄弟以扫和好。作为次子的雅各曾与哥哥以扫相互为敌，因为他夺取了哥哥的长子名分（创世记25:19-34），并欺骗年迈的父亲，结果父亲把长子以扫的祝福给了自己（26:34-27:40）。以扫勃然大怒，扬言要杀了他，雅各只好逃往他乡。多年后，雅各想要回家，但他害怕因为无法化解与哥哥之间根深蒂固的隔阂，而最终只能以流血告终（32:6-8）。当他和以扫最终相遇时，他谦卑地“向哥哥俯伏在地七次”（33:3）。他害怕以扫会杀了他，但以扫却跑过来“拥抱他”（4节）。
无论我们伤害过别人还是被别人伤害过，都需要谦卑、坦诚地对待，而且往往需要付出很多努力才能治愈彼此之间的创伤。但是，当我们谦卑认错，上帝必然会帮助我们和解。
反思与祷告 你生命中哪些关系需要修复？如何开始这个过程？ 亲爱的天父，请您让我不记仇、不心怀怨恨，帮助我宽恕他人，也帮助我请求他人的宽恕。——安·塞塔斯