When Your Enemies Favour You

Genesis 33

Jacob’s planning, preparation and prayers yielded great results when Esau favoured him. What he thought would happen to him and his family did not. God touched the heart of his brother to treat him in a favourable way. Indeed, the heart of the king is in the hands of the Lord. After such favour by the Lord, Jacob built an altar to honour God.

What can we learn from Genesis 33?

#1. God can cause our enemies to be at peace with us.(Genesis 33:1-17)

Jacob was human to fear but he still put his trust in the Lord to have a favourable treatment by his brother. The Lord answered his prayers by causing his brother to treat him peacefully and with all due respect and not hostility. Indeed, Scripture says in Isaiah that God will give anyone perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Him. Jacob actually experienced the opposite of what he feared to happen. Our God can make our enemies be at peace with us. We saw it when Abimelech came to Isaac to broker peace and cut a covenant with him. Rather than worrying about what can happen, put your trust in God and leave the rest in His hands.

#2. When God favours you, honour Him. (Genesis 33:18-20)

When Jacob arrived safely at his destination in the land of Canaan, he bought a parcel of land and built an altar to honour God. His grandfather Abraham was committed to God just like Jacob. The writer of Proverbs said that we must honour the Lord with our substance and with the first fruit of all our increase. Jacob purchased the land and dedicated a portion to God. He was openly saying that he was wholly dedicated to the worship of God. When God favours us, what do we do for Him? When He grants us success, what do we do in His name? Jacob teaches us to honour God when He makes a way for us.

We can humanly fear what may happen with our relationships gone bad but God is able to turn things around. When He does, we must be swift to thank Him for what He does. May His name alone be praised.

Take Action: Ask God to favour you before people you meet.