Feb 1, 2025
The 2025 edition of Our Best Thought is inspired by our 2025 Bible Reading Plan and features writings thoughtfully crafted by contributors reflecting on their daily devotions. “Our Best Thought“ is taken from the hymn, “Be Thou My Vision” as a reference to God: “Thou my best thought, by day or by night.”
Reading: Genesis 32-33
Scripture:
Genesis 33:3-4
3 He himself went on ahead and bowed down to the ground seven times as he approached his brother.
4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.
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Observation:
Jacob had wronged Esau, his brother, in the past and was now about to see him again after 20 years. With that in mind, Jacob approached Esau with humility to reconcile this broken relationship. The act of bowing seven times showed that Jacob, who had done wrong, humbled himself before Esau, the wronged. In the end, Esau extended grace to his brother and forgave him.
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Application:
Humility is an important aspect of reconciliation. We should be humble and acknowledge that we have done wrong when seeking reconciliation and forgiveness. Humility may not come naturally to us, which is why we need to seek God’s strength and wisdom to be humble before others and let go of grudges that we hold.
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Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we are sorry that at times, we do not act as we should and have wronged people around us. Help us to be humble in acknowledging our wrongdoings. It is not easy to be humble, so thank you for giving us the wisdom and strength to have a posture of humility in seeking forgiveness and reconciliation from those whom we have wronged. Amen.