Genesis 36:1-8: a reflection

As Esau and Jacob grow prosperous, their possessions become too great for them to dwell together in the same land; and rather than let this lead to strife, Esau moves away to give his brother room. Their substance was too great for them to dwell together, the account says, and the land could not bear them; so Esau went into a land away from his brother Jacob. Rather than crowd together and quarrel over the limited land and resources, Esau made room by moving to another place. This peaceable separation, giving space to avoid strife, is worth noticing, especially given the earlier conflict between these brothers. Sometimes peace is served by giving one another room. Esau moved away to give his brother room and avoid strife. Sometimes peace requires giving one another space. Making room can prevent strife between people. Peace can be served by giving space rather than crowding.

Notice the wisdom of this peaceable separation. Esau and Jacob had a history of conflict; and now their possessions had grown so great that the land could not support them both together. Crowded together, competing for the same limited resources, they might easily have fallen into strife. But instead, Esau moved away to another land, giving his brother room. Rather than insist on staying and quarreling, he made space, and so avoided conflict. This reflects a piece of wisdom for living peaceably with others. Sometimes the way to peace is not to crowd together and compete, but to give one another room, to make space, to separate where staying too close would only breed strife. There is no shame in this; it can be the wiser and more peaceable course. When staying too close would lead to conflict, giving one another space can preserve peace and even relationship. We do well, at times, to make room rather than crowd, to give space rather than compete, for the sake of peace. Giving one another room can preserve peace where crowding breeds strife. Sometimes peace is served by making space, not crowding together. To give space rather than compete can prevent conflict. Making room for one another can be the wiser, peaceable course.

That is worth taking to heart, for sometimes peace is served by giving one another room rather than crowding together and competing, as Esau moved away to give his brother space and avoid strife. We can insist on staying close and competing for the same limited things, breeding strife; but Esau, whose possessions had grown too great to share the land with Jacob, moved away and gave his brother room, preserving peace. Making space can preserve peace. When staying too close would breed conflict, consider giving one another room, as Esau did, for the sake of peace. Consider that sometimes peace is served by giving one another room rather than crowding together and competing, as Esau, when his and Jacob's possessions had grown too great for them to dwell together in the same land, moved away into another land to give his brother space and avoid strife; for we can insist on staying close and competing for the same limited resources, breeding quarrels, especially where there is already a history of conflict, but sometimes the way to peace is not to crowd together and compete but to give one another room, to make space, to separate where staying too close would only breed strife, and there is no shame in this but wisdom, so that when staying too close would lead to conflict we do well at times to make room rather than crowd, giving space rather than competing, for the sake of peace, as Esau did with Jacob.