Genesis 33:12-17 (ESV)

Then Esau said, “Let us journey on our way, and I will go ahead of you.” But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are frail, and that the nursing flocks and herds are a care to me. If they are driven hard for one day, all the flocks will die. Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will lead on slowly, at the pace of the livestock that are ahead of me and at the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir.”

So Esau said, “Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me.” But he said, “What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord.” So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.

There’s a wonderful scene in “Goodwill Hunting” of a dialogue between the psychiatrist (played by Robin Williams) and Will (played by Matt Damon):

“It’s not your fault.”                           “I know.”
“It’s not your fault.”                           “I know!”
“It’s not your fault.”                           “I KNOW!”
“It’s not your fault.”                           “DON’T MESS WITH ME MAN!”
“It’s not your fault.”                           Will breaks down crying,

Breakthrough, at last. Will is starting to get it, and healing is about to begin. There’s a lesson like that for Christians – one that we memorize and “know” but we don’t really get.

You are forgiven. You are forgiven. You are forgiven. Just as Jacob cannot accept that Esau has really, fully forgiven him, many of us cannot accept that God has really, fully forgiven us. God’s forgiveness is straight, in your face forgiveness. He didn’t miss anything. He knows what you did.

Consider the parable of the vineyard laborers. The laborers who only worked one hour got the same pay as the ones who worked all day. People often interpret this passage as saying that life’s not fair. That is exactly, precisely wrong. Grace is fair; it would be unfair only if someone got less than they deserved. No one got shortchanged. God can forgive whomever he chooses.

We are careful to teach how to understand our trials, but give short shrift to understanding our blessings. Can you accept God’s grace? Do you really think it’s OK that you’re forgiven?

We do not deserve anything other than Hell. Our sense of fairness makes us want to argue with God’s grace. Christians are like the workers hired at the eleventh hour and we often struggle with our blessings. Things are too good. This is a tragic misunderstanding that we must overcome. We are right to be puzzled by God’s blessings because we are undeserving. But we’re wrong when we can’t relax enough to fully accept His forgiveness. Leave it all at the foot of the cross,

The right response is worship. Worship Him for the wonder of the things he has done for us. Worship Him for the wonderful things he has done for others.

We live in a world of wonders designed to glorify God, and glorify Him it does.

The weekly study guides, which include discussion questions, are available for download here:

https://www.ailbe.org/resources/itemlist/category/91-deep-studies