Esau and Jacob were twins but that seemed to be about all they had in common. You remember the story of how Jacob tricked Esau and also their father Isaac. As I read about the brothers reuniting after twenty years, I could feel Jacob’s guilty fear as he went to meet Esau. What a surprise for Jacob! Esau forgave him. Jacob must have been vastly relieved when Esau embraced him.
Jacob expected Esau to exact payment for cheating him out of his birthright and their father’s blessing. Jacob knew he was guilty and deserved punishment. But Esau met him with love.
Guilt and unforgiveness are thieves of time. We rob ourselves of many joys by holding grudges and not letting go of wrongs committed against us whether they are real or imagined. Likewise, the guilt we feel from our own wrong-doings, our harsh words or thoughtless actions actually can be detrimental to our health, both mental and physical. We miss many blessings by clinging tightly to unforgiveness or to guilt.
Sometimes it is harder to forgive ourselves than to forgive others. That adage, “Confession is good for the soul” is true. Then, after it is confessed, leave it! Why would we want to dig up a dirty old coat and put it on again? 
Jacob and Esau present a powerful lesson, a lesson of betrayal and guilt and forgiveness. A lot of centuries have passed since the lives of these brothers but truth is timeless. So is love.
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