​ But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept . (Genesis 33:4, NKJV) ​ Then Jacob said, “No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then receive my present from my hand, for I have seen your face as though I had seen the face of God, and you were pleased with me.” (Genesis 33:10, NKJV) The Scene: Fear of Revenge  ​For twenty long years, Jacob, whose name means "supplanter" or "deceiver," lived with the knowledge that he had cheated his brother Esau out of his birthright and his father’s blessing. He fled in fear of his life, and now, returning to the promised land, he faces the moment of reckoning. Jacob is terrified, dividing his family and flocks, hoping to appease his brother with massive gifts. He expects to meet a furious warrior; he prepares for battle. ​ The Climax: The Surprise of Grace ​What happens next defies human expectation. Esau approaches, but not as a vengeful enemy. He runs to Jacob. He d...