Reader's Guide - "The Word for Today" Sunday, September 23, 2012 Read - Genesis 32 & 33 There is a poster outside the church office that reads, “The Road most challenging in best sooner begun” – a piece of good advice. I suppose from the day he left Jacob knew that he would need to make a journey back home to face his brother Esau – the brother he had deceived and cheated out of birthright and blessing. Jacob prepares for the worst – sending gifts to appease Esau – arranging for his family to encounter Esau in stages in hopes that somehow something might remain. We have been led to expect the worst of Esau too – after all Jacob is the biblical hero. But Esau displays an integrity and grace that outshines his younger brother. Esau is not a bad character. Perhaps we need to do some relearning about characters like Esau. In a story the sounds reminiscent of Jacob’s dream from earlier Jacob encounters the angel of the Lord as he wrestles with his “going home” journey. These stories function like “bookends” in the story – a technique that is used by other Biblical writers. The story comes full circle. One of the main features of the encounter is that Jacob receives a new name. The “cheater” has become one who “strives with God” – the meaning of his new name Israel. Jacob had been transformed by his experience with Laban. God’s grace prevails in the story. As was mentioned earlier the encounter with Esau concludes on a surprisingly good note. Esau welcomes his brother back home. There is hope that broken relationship can be healed.