Kindness or revenge? Isaiah had just been hit in the head by a wild throw during a baseball game. He dropped to the ground holding his head. Thankfully, his helmet protected him from serious injury. As the game resumed, Isaiah noticed the pitcher was visibly shaken by his unintentional error. In that moment, Isaiah did something so extraordinary that the video of his response went viral. He walked over to the pitcher, gave him a comforting hug, and made sure the pitcher knew he was all right.
In a situation that could have resulted in a brawl, Isaiah chose kindness.
In the Old Testament, we see Esau make a similar, though far more difficult, choice to abandon any long-harboured plans for revenge against his deceiving twin brother Jacob. As Jacob returned home after twenty years in exile, Esau chose kindness and forgiveness instead of vengeance for the ways Jacob had wronged him. When Esau saw Jacob, he “ran to meet [him] and embraced him” (Genesis 33:4). Esau accepted Jacob’s apology and let him know he was all right (vv. 9-11).
When someone demonstrates remorse for wrongs committed against us, we have a choice: kindness or revenge. Choosing to embrace them in kindness follows Jesus’ example (Romans 5:8) and is a pathway towards reconciliation.
By Lisa M. Samra
REFLECT & PRAY
When have you been met by kindness after acknowledging a wrong? How might you show kindness to someone else?
Dear Jesus, please help me to follow Your example and extend kindness when I’ve been wronged.
SCRIPTURE INSIGHT
Jacob was one of the twin sons of Isaac, along with his brother Esau. The name Jacob means “heel grabber” and describes someone who trips others up, presumably for his own benefit. We see this as Jacob tripped up Esau to take his birthright (Genesis 25), then tripped up their father, Isaac, to take Esau’s blessing (ch. 27). The result of Jacob’s scheming was that he ended up in exile for decades.
Bill Crowder
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