Untying the Rope / 解开绳索

[Dexu Xia]

Untying the Rope

But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept. Genesis 33:4

One Christian organization’s mission is to promote the healing nature of forgiveness. One of their activities involves a skit in which a person who has been wronged is strapped back to back with a rope to the wrongdoer. Only the one sinned against can untie the rope. No matter what she does, she’s got someone on her back. Without forgiveness—without untying the rope—she cannot escape.

Offering forgiveness to someone who comes to us in sorrow for their wrongdoing begins the process of releasing us and them from the bitterness and pain that can cling to us over wrongs we’ve suffered. In Genesis, we see two brothers separated for twenty years after Jacob stole Esau’s birthright. After this long time, God told Jacob to return to his homeland (Genesis 31:3). He obeyed, but nervously, sending ahead to Esau gifts of herds of animals (32:13–15). When the brothers met, Jacob bowed at Esau’s feet seven times in humility (33:3). Imagine his surprise when Esau ran and embraced him, both of them weeping over their reconciliation (v. 4). No longer was Jacob held by the sin he committed against his brother.

Do you feel imprisoned by unforgiveness, saddled with anger, fear, or shame? Know that God through His Son and Spirit can release you when you seek His help. He will enable you to begin the process of untying any ropes and setting you free.

Reflect & Pray

How do you think Esau felt to see Jacob bowing before him? Could you similarly humble yourself before someone you’ve wronged? Who do you need to release through forgiveness?

解开绳索

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。-创世记33章4节

有个福音机构以倡导“饶恕能带来医治”为宗旨，并以短剧加以阐述。剧中一名受害者与加害人背对背绑在一起，只有受害者才能将绳子解开。无论受害者做什么，都要揹着对方，若受害者不愿饶恕就无法松绑，自然也就无法得释放。

当犯错的人诚心悔过，来到我们面前寻求原谅时，我们若愿饶恕对方就能脱离缠绕我们的伤害，使彼此逐渐从苦毒与痛苦中释放出来。在创世记，我们看到雅各骗取了以扫长子的名分，造成这两兄弟分开。直到20年后，上帝才叫雅各归回故里（31章3节）。他听从上帝的指示，但却忐忑不安地先送给以扫一大群牲畜（32章13-15节）。当两兄弟见面时，雅各谦卑地在以扫面前一连7次俯伏在地（33章3节）。不难想像，当以扫跑去拥抱雅各时，雅各会何等惊讶。因着和好，他们相拥而泣（4节），雅各也不再因为他对哥哥所犯的罪而被捆绑。

你是否因为不愿饶恕他人而感到受捆绑，心中充满怒气、恐惧或羞愧呢？要知道若你寻求上帝的帮助，祂就会藉着主耶稣和圣灵使你得释放，让你得着能力解开绳索，使你得着自由。

若要进一步了解饶恕的真义，可上网阅读
探索丛书《真正的饶恕》。

你是否愿意谦卑地恳求他人饶恕呢？你需要原谅谁，好让自己得释放呢？