1. 7 Steps of Forgiveness Gen. 27-33

3. A Blessing More Unique Than Any Other (Genesis 28:1-4) Then Isaac called Jacob and blessed him, and charged him, and said to him: "You shall not take a wife from the daughters of Canaan. "Arise, go to Padan Aram, to the house of Bethuel your mother's father; and take yourself a wife from there of the daughters of Laban your mother's brother. "May God Almighty bless you, And make you fruitful and multiply you, That you may be an assembly of peoples; And give you the blessing of Abraham, To you and your descendants with you, That you may inherit the land In which you are a stranger, Which God gave to Abraham." (NKJV)

4. 7 Steps of Forgiveness Gen. 27-33 Rebekah Favored Jacob (Genesis 25:28) And Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob. (NKJV)

5. 7 Steps of Forgiveness Gen. 27-33Paddan-Aram

6. A Remorseful Jacob (Genesis 29:11-13) Then Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice and wept. And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's relative and that he was Rebekah's son. So she ran and told her father. Then it came to pass, when Laban heard the report about Jacob his sister's son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him and kissed him, and brought him to his house. So he told Laban all these things. (NKJV)

7. 7 Steps of Forgiveness Gen. 27-33 Esau: Still Planning on Killing His Brother? (Genesis 32:6-7) Then the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, "We came to your brother Esau, and he also is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him." So Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people that were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two companies. (NKJV)

8. 7 Steps of Forgiveness Gen. 27-33 Guard Against Ungreatful, Unforgiving Attitudes (Hebrews 12:14-16) Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled; lest there be any fornicator or profane person like Esau, who for one morsel of food sold his birthright. (NKJV)

9. 7 Steps of Forgiveness Gen. 27-33 1.He began by repenting of what he had done (Gen. 29:11-13) 2.Jacob began by praying to God (Gen. 33:9-12) 3.He made restitution for what he had taken from his brother (Gen. 32:13-20). 4.He allowed Esau to take time to decide if he would accept his apology (Gen. 32:21). 5.He prepared for the possibility that forgiveness may not be extended (Gen. 33:1-2).

10. 7 Steps of Forgiveness Gen. 27-33 Forgiveness: Not Optional If Requested (Colossians 3:13) bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. (NKJV) (Matthew 6:13) And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. (NKJV)

11. 7 Steps of Forgiveness Gen. 27-33 1.He began by repenting of what he had done (Gen. 29:11-13) 2.Jacob began by praying to God (Gen. 33:9-12) 3.He made restitution for what he had taken from his brother (Gen. 32:13-20). 4.He allowed Esau to take time to decide if he would accept his apology (Gen. 32:21). 5.He prepared for the possibility that forgiveness may not be extended (Gen. 33:1-2). 6.He humbled himself (Gen. 33:3) 7.He did not make the same mistakes again.

12. 7 Steps of Forgiveness Gen. 27-33 Esau’s Reaction: Success!Esau’s Reaction: Success! (Genesis 33:4) But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept. (NKJV)

13. 7 Steps of Forgiveness Gen. 27-33 God: Always Ready to Forgive (1 John 1:9-10) If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. (NKJV)