It’s such a brief line but it is incredibly potent in meaning.
For anyone who has just been restored to an important relationship because of another’s forgiveness, this verse fragment will hold special meaning.
“…what a relief to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the face of God!” (Genesis 33:10)
The context was Jacob’s return to his homeland after 20 years in what is now Iraq. He had fled there earlier out of fear that his brother Esau would kill him because of various deceptive and cheating behaviors.
Returning as an older and somewhat wiser man, Jacob still had fear that Esau might take revenge for the dirty deeds done to him a generation earlier.
You’ll want to read of this account by clicking here.
Despite the fear, Jacob headed home anyway. Previous chapters in Genesis recorded why Jacob believed he couldn’t stay in the land of his wives’ family.
Jacob knew when he fled his homeland two decades earlier that he had done wrong.
And now as he awaited the inevitable meeting with Esau, he was hoping that retribution and carnage would not be the outcome.
As you read the passage in the link above, you’ll see just how deep-rooted Jacob’s fears were.
But when the meeting actually occurred, there was no hatred, no shaking fists, no waving swords.
Instead, there was unmistakable forgiveness.
Jacob sensed that what he had received was not the fruit of human nature but instead the fruit of God’s Spirit overflowing through Esau’s face.
When Jacob saw a forgiving face with a friendly smile, he perceived it as the work of God in his brother’s heart.
Wow.
Perhaps you have a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate the work of God in your heart as you choose to genuinely forgive someone who has done harm to you.
If you’ll offer a smiling face to him or her as you seek to restore a relationship, embracing rather than attacking, you’ll bring relief to that person’s soul.
And they’ll know that what you’ve done is a reflection of God’s influence, not human nature.
Here’s the conclusion of the matter — there is perhaps no better way to portray faith than to forgive those who have harmed you.
Please, let people see the face of God in your life.
Forgive.
As always, I love you
Martin
