Reconciliation Cannot be Bought

Genesis 33:1-20 

1 Now Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and there, Esau was coming, and with him were four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants. 2 And he put the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children behind, and Rachel and Joseph last. 3 Then he crossed over before them and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. 4 But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. 5 And he lifted his eyes and saw the women and children, and said, “Who are these with you?”  So he said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.” 6 Then the maidservants came near, they and their children, and bowed down. 7 And Leah also came near with her children, and they bowed down. Afterward Joseph and Rachel came near, and they bowed down.  8 Then Esau said, “What do you mean by all this company which I met?”  And he said, “These are 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 And Jacob said, “No, please, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, inasmuch as I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me. 11 Please, take my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough.” So he urged him, and he took it.  12 Then Esau said, “Let us take our journey; let us go, and I will go before you.”  13 But Jacob said to him, “My lord knows that the children are weak, and the flocks and herds which are nursing are with me. And if the men should drive them hard one day, all the flock will die. 14 Please let my lord go on ahead before his servant. I will lead on slowly at a pace which the livestock that go before me, and the children, are able to endure, until I come to my lord in Seir.”  15 And Esau said, “Now 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.” 16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir. 17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, built himself a house, and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
    18 Then Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padan Aram; and he pitched his tent before the city. 19 And he bought the parcel of land, where he had pitched his tent, from the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for one hundred pieces of money. 20 Then he erected an altar there and called it El Elohe Israel.

Jacob finally comes limping back to his brother Esau.  Because Esau had four hundred with him, Jacob split up his family and entourage into groups, presumably to save some if attacked.  “But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.”  Jacob’s fears were not justified, no matter what happened in the past; they were still brothers, and the greeting proved that.  Jacob had to urge his brother to accept his gifts of reconciliation, and finally Esau accepted them (though he had enough himself already).  Then Jacob finished his journey alone, built a house, and set up booths, naming the place Booths (Succoth).  Thereafter he came to Shechem in Canaan and bought land there, building an altar of worship called God, the God of Israel after his new name and called identity.  We learn here that reconciliation takes the heart of another, and not on what we offer to buy it with.  We also see that God’s grace deserves worship and thanksgiving for all He leads us through.