And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom, instructing them, “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: Genesis 32:3-4
After all these years, Jacob is about to meet Esau, the brother he cheated out of covenantal privileges. He is afraid for his life and rightly so. Afraid, he sent messengers on ahead to test the waters, to speak of him to Esau and see how he responded.
Have you ever feared meeting with a certain person? Tensions between you were high and over the years, there was little else you can think of when your soul was quiet. The strained relationship weighed heavily on you. To test the waters, you asked someone who was in good standing with them to speak of you. You asked them to reveal your present circumstances and explain how your heart had changed since they last saw you. Because you did this, you knew whether it was wise or unwise to restore the relationship.
A mediator is oftentimes needed. When judgments have been made, fairly or unfairly, softening the heart of the estranged is difficult. When God was misunderstood, He sent Jesus to show us His heart, personality, and character. Jesus softened our hearts and paid a great price to restore the breach in our relationship.
Jesus is still a mediator, not only between His Father and us, but between us and anyone else with whom we suffer a distance. When a foundation of prayer is laid, He goes ahead of us to work on a hardened heart. Nothing is too hard for our Mediator. He can give them a dream, speak to them in the night, cause them to remember a story about us that they had forgotten, or make sure they cross paths with someone who can speak about us in a way that makes them softer.
What can I pray if I am estranged from my brother, sister, parent, or friend? “Lord, would you give them your eyes for me? Would you bind their thinking to yours? Would you loosen the lies they believe and the revenge they seek? Till the soil of their heart so that they are approachable.”
Not only are the hearts of kings in God’s hands, but so is the heart of your nemesis.
You, Lord, are the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid? Amen
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You are right… and Jesus, in His only comment on the Lord’s Prayer, said “for if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, and your father will not forgive your trespasses.” (Mt. 6:14,15)