• Great hurt happens when the actions of others rob the enjoyment in your life.

Genesis 25:29-34

Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. 30 And Esau

said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called

Edom.) 31 Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” 32 Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a

birthright to me?” 33 Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob.

34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus

Esau despised his birthright.

• Great hurt happens when the actions of others rob the opportunities in your life.

Genesis 27:18-27

So he went in to his father and said, “My father.” And he said, “Here I am. Who are you, my son?” 19

Jacob said to his father, “I am Esau your firstborn. I have done as you told me; now sit up and eat of my

game, that your soul may bless me.” 20 But Isaac said to his son, “How is it that you have found it so

quickly, my son?” He answered, “Because the LORD your God granted me success.” 21 Then Isaac said

to Jacob, “Please come near, that I may feel you, my son, to know whether you are really my son Esau

or not.” 22 So Jacob went near to Isaac his father, who felt him and said, “The voice is Jacob’s voice, but

the hands are the hands of Esau.” 23 And he did not recognize him, because his hands were hairy like

his brother Esau’s hands. So he blessed him. 24 He said, “Are you really my son Esau?” He answered, “I

am.” 25 Then he said, “Bring it near to me, that I may eat of my son’s game and bless you.” So he

brought it near to him, and he ate; and he brought him wine, and he drank. 26 Then his father Isaac said

to him, “Come near and kiss me, my son.” 27 So he came near and kissed him. And Isaac smelled the

smell of his garments and blessed him

• Great hurt happens when it comes from someone it should not.

Genesis 27:30-36

As soon as Isaac had finished blessing Jacob, when Jacob had scarcely gone out from the presence of

Isaac his father, Esau his brother came in from his hunting. 31 He also prepared delicious food and

brought it to his father. And he said to his father, “Let my father arise and eat of his son’s game, that

you may bless me.” 32 His father Isaac said to him, “Who are you?” He answered, “I am your son, your

firstborn, Esau.” 33 Then Isaac trembled very violently and said, “Who was it then that hunted game

and brought it to me, and I ate it all before you came, and I have blessed him? Yes, and he shall be

blessed.” 34 As soon as Esau heard the words of his father, he cried out with an exceedingly great and

bitter cry and said to his father, “Bless me, even me also, O my father!” 35 But he said, “Your brother

came deceitfully, and he has taken away your blessing.” 36 Esau said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob?

For he has cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken

away my blessing.” Then he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?”

• Forgiveness is when you chose faith over fear.

Genesis 33:1-3

And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with

him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants. 2 And he put the

servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all. 3 He

himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his

brother.

• Forgiveness is when you chose reconciliation over resentment.

Genesis 33:4-7

But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. 5 And

when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?”

Jacob said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” 6 Then the servants drew near,

they and their children, and bowed down. 7 Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down.

And last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down.

• Forgiveness is when you chose relationship over retribution.

Genesis 33:8-11

Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company that I met?” Jacob answered, “To find favor in the

sight of my lord.” 9 But Esau said, “I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.” 10 Jacob

said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. For I have

seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me. 11 Please accept my

blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have

enough.” Thus he urged him, and he took it.

• By faith, be obedient to the Lord by handing your hurt over to Him.

Romans 12:19a

Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God,

Ephesians 4:32

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Matthew 6:15

but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Matthew 18:34-35

And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt. 35 So also my

heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart.”

Mark 11:25

And whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father

also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

• By faith, be obedient to the Lord by trusting Him to deal with all hurts and sins.

Romans 12:19b

for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

• By faith, be obedient to the Lord by seeking reconciliation as far as it depends on you.

Romans 12:20-21

To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so

doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with

good.

Romans 12:18

If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.