When I look at the news and hear or read about hatred, violence, revenge, and terror, I often ask myself what I can do to contribute to reconciliation. The Bible story about Jacob and Esau helps me with this. These twin brothers lived about 3,500 to 4,000 years ago in what today is the Middle East. Jacob outwitted Esau, when he had Esau sell him his birthright for a meal of lentil stew. And then Jacob passed himself off as Esau so that his blind father, Isaac, would give him the blessing for the firstborn son. Esau was the firstborn and according to the tradition of the day should have received this blessing. The Bible then tells us: “Esau said unto his father, Hast thou but one blessing, my father? bless me, even me also, O my father. And Esau lifted up his voice, and wept” (Genesis 27:38). This deep sorrow, the feeling of being betrayed, less loved, less worthy, became fertile soil for hateful thoughts that soon sprouted in murderous plans.
Esau planned to kill his brother. However, the story has a happy ending because years later the two reconcile. When I ask myself what I can learn from this story so that reconciliation can happen today where injustice, betrayal, meanness, hurt feelings, hatred, and fear appear to dominate thought, the cry, “Bless me, even me also, O my father,” echoes in my ears.
Before his hatred arose, it was Esau’s desire to be blessed. Why is it so important to be blessed? In the patriarchs’ time, a father’s blessing was the basis of success, supply, and prestige because the firstborn son inherited the greater part of the father’s possessions.
