Esau, the Unsung Hero

Sometimes, the real heroes in our lives are people we meet for a short time and who teach us how to love and forgive.

Take, for example, Jacob, aka Israel, a colorful Biblical hero. However, he had a dark side; he stole the birthright and inheritance belonging to his brother Esau by tricking his dad into blessing him instead of Esau.

Esau was so angry that Jacob ran for his life and lived with his uncle. He served seven years for the right to marry Rachel. However, because his uncle tricked him into marrying Leah, Jacob had to serve another seven years to marry Rachel, who bore his favorite son, Joseph.

Unfortunately, Jacob got crossways with his uncle and had to return home and face his brother Esau who came to meet him with 400 men. Because Jacob thought the men were present to take revenge, he devised a plan to send the servants, their children, and Leah and her children before Rachel and son Joseph, who would have the best chance to escape if Esau started trouble.

But Esau, rather than yell for his men to capture Jacob and his family, hugged Jacob and wept tears of Joy. Esau forgave his brother and was happy he had returned home. All is forgiven, and all is forgotten. The story of Jacob meeting Esau is truly a Hallmark Movie ending.

After this meeting, Esau is quickly forgotten and fades into the sunset. On the other hand, Jacob is the hero. People write, preach, and teach lessons about Jacob, and rarely do we hear about Esau.

But let us remember Esau’s example of love and forgiveness. Jacob’s whole family watched Uncle Esau forgive their husband and dad.

Years later, Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers and overcame other adversities to become an essential part of Pharoah’s inner circle, saving Egypt from drought. The same brothers who sold him into slavery came asking for food because of the drought in their land. Even though they had betrayed him, Joseph forgave his brothers.

Now stop and think, Who taught Joseph how to forgive? His dad, Jacob, or Uncle Esau? I believe Joseph learned about forgiveness when he saw his uncle forgive his father.

Let us remember that children learn how to love and forgive from the example of those around them.

If we are angry, unforgiving, and judgmental, we fail to be an example of God's love.

Just because we are one person or attend a small membership church does not mean we are insignificant. Every day, we can be a hero in another person's life. 

May we always remember the importance of unsung heroes like Esau and be the unsung heroes to all those we meet.