The story of Jacob and Esau includes a pericope in which Jacob, having stolen Esau’s birthright, must travel through the country where Esau resides. Jacob frets over the anger his brother feels and seemingly expects retribution.
As he travels through the country, he sends his wives before him. The first to meet Esau are the women and children Jacob cares for the least. He saves Rachel to the end, but still, he sends her before him with her two children. Then, traveling even further behind Rachel, he meets Esau last.
When he finally stands before Esau, Esau embraces Jacob. When Jacob is released, he steps back and says, “In seeing you, I see the Face of God.”
Outside of Jesus, this is the only other person in the Bible who is identified as God and it is because of the mercy and love Esau shows Jacob, despite Jacob’s treachery and scheming.
The Lenten card asked where I have seen God, and because spring weather brings new life all around, seeing hints of God abound (no charge for the rhyme). Seeing God in people is more difficult, however, because people act horribly. Jacob needed mercy and Esau gave it to him – god-like stuff. According to Jesus, the sick I see in the hospital are God. The prisoner, the poor, the “least of these.” Radical ideas especially in the current social context.
I’m not good at seeing God in those Christ said are God and yet God, according to this criteria, surrounds me day-in and day-out. I stand on holy ground all the time. May I - may we all - have eyes to see.
3/2/26
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