Genesis 33:6-11: a reflection

6Then the servants came near with their children, and they bowed themselves. 7Leah also and her children came near, and bowed themselves. After them, Joseph came near with Rachel, and they bowed themselves. 8Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?” Jacob said, “To find favor in the sight of my lord.” 9Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; let that which you have be yours.” 10Jacob said, “Please, no, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present at my hand, because I have seen your face, as one sees the face of God, and you were pleased with me. 11Please take the gift that I brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” He urged him, and he took it.

When Jacob and Esau are reconciled, Jacob presses Esau to accept a generous gift. Esau at first declines, saying, I have enough, my brother. But Jacob urges him, and gives a reason worth noting: Please take my gift, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. Jacob could give generously because he recognized that God had dealt graciously with him, and that he had enough; his contentment, born of God's grace, freed him to give.

Notice Jacob's contentment, and its source: God has dealt graciously with me, and I have enough. Jacob did not give out of a sense of lack, or with an anxious grip on what he had; he gave freely, because he recognized God's gracious dealing with him and knew that he had enough. His contentment was grounded in God's grace, in the recognition that God had provided and that he had enough. And this contentment freed him to give generously, without anxious grasping.

That contentment, born of recognizing God's gracious provision, is worth cultivating, for it frees us for generosity. We often feel we do not have enough, gripping what we have anxiously, unable to give freely because we fear scarcity. But Jacob could say, God has dealt graciously with me, and I have enough; and that contentment freed him to give. When you recognize that God has dealt graciously with you, and that you have enough, you are freed from anxious grasping, and freed to give generously. Cultivate the contentment Jacob showed: recognize God's gracious provision in your life, and that you have enough, rather than feeling you never have enough and gripping anxiously what you have. Such contentment, grounded in God's grace, frees the heart for generosity. Say with Jacob, God has dealt graciously with me, and I have enough; and let that contentment free you, as it freed him, to give generously, rather than grasping anxiously out of a sense of lack.

Lord, when Jacob and Esau were reconciled, Jacob pressed Esau to accept a generous gift, giving a reason worth noting: please take my gift, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. He could give generously because he recognized that you had dealt graciously with him, and that he had enough; his contentment, born of your grace, freed him to give. Show me his contentment, and its source: God has dealt graciously with me, and I have enough. He did not give out of a sense of lack, or with an anxious grip on what he had; he gave freely, because he recognized your gracious dealing and knew he had enough. Help me cultivate that contentment, for it frees me for generosity. I often feel I do not have enough, gripping what I have anxiously, unable to give freely because I fear scarcity. But Jacob could say, God has dealt graciously with me, and I have enough. When I recognize that you have dealt graciously with me, and that I have enough, I am freed from anxious grasping, and freed to give generously. Help me recognize your gracious provision in my life, and that I have enough, rather than feeling I never have enough and gripping anxiously what I have. Help me say with Jacob, God has dealt graciously with me, and I have enough, Lord, and let that contentment free me, as it freed him, to give generously. Thank you for your gracious provision; help me be content and generous.