The Embrace of Forgiveness

The Embrace of Forgiveness

By: Vashti Graham

Artist Description:

After years of anger and seperation, Jacob was afraid to meet his brother Esau, because long ago he had tricked him out of his blessing. But when the two finally met, something amazing happened. Esau ran to Jacob, hugged him, and forgave him instead of seeking revenge. Which is not weakness, it's a strength. Their reunion became a powerful picture of grace, love, and forgiveness showing that God's grace can heal even the deepest wounds.

Scripture References:

Genesis 33:4 "But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him.

Additional Study Notes from This Painting You may find interesting:

Jacob once tricked his father Isaac by using goat skins and Esau’s clothes to steal the blessing. Years later, Jacob’s own sons tricked him the same way. They used goat’s blood and Joseph’s coat to make Jacob think his son was dead.

Both stories involved: a father being deceived,

• a beloved son’s clothing,

• and a goat used to pull off the lie.

It shows how the same kind of deception Jacob used came back around in his own family.

Jacob deceives his father Isaac:

Genesis 27:18–19: Jacob comes to Isaac pretending to be Esau:“Then he came to his father and said, ‘My father.’ … Jacob said to his father, ‘I am Esau your firstborn.’”

Jacob is later deceived by his sons:

Genesis 37:32–33: Joseph’s brothers bring the bloody coat to Jacob:“‘We found this…’ He recognized it and said, ‘It is my son’s robe! A wild animal has devoured him!’”

A Beloved Son’s Clothing Used in the Lie

Jacob wears Esau’s clothes to fool Isaac:

Genesis 27:15 “Rebekah took the best clothes of Esau her older son… and put them on Jacob.”

Joseph’s special coat used to fool Jacob:

Genesis 37:31 “Then they took Joseph’s robe… and dipped the robe in the blood.”

A Goat Used to Pull Off the Lie

A goat used in Jacob’s deception:

Genesis 27:16 Rebekah uses goat skins for Jacob’s disguise: “She also covered his hands and the smooth part of his neck with the goatskins.”

A goat used in Joseph’s brothers’ deception:

Genesis 37:31 Joseph’s brothers kill a goat to fake his death: “Then they… slaughtered a goat and dipped the robe in the blood.”