40 Days of Reconciliation

Genesis 32:1-21 (Jacob prepares to meet Esau)

Genesis 50:15-21 (Joseph reassures his brothers)

Previously, we looked at how Abraham and Isaac handled conflict. Today, we are going to look at strategic ways to prevent conflict, with lessons from Jacob’s excellent and outstanding strategy as he prepared to meet his brother, Esau (Genesis 32:1-21).

Jacob’s strategy was multi-layered. First, he sought God’s protection, but he didn’t stop there. He paired his prayer with practical action. Notably, he divided his wealth into groups and assigned each one with a leader. With a thoughtful and generous heart, he set aside a very generous gift and sent it ahead of him, as a way to appease his brother Esau, who was approaching with a large group of men. This strategy showed humility and a desire for peace before the confrontation even began.

Later, even after being welcomed by his brother and invited to travel with him, Jacob wisely diverted and set camp away from Esau. He strategically prevented the possible continuous clashes that could arise from having two large households and so much wealth in such close proximity. He understood that reconciliation in a moment doesn’t always erase the potential for future friction.

We also see a different kind of conflict prevention in the life of Jacob’s beloved son, Joseph. Joseph was hurt by his brothers with what would look like a capital offense, or terrorism, in some countries today. But God helped him through the most hurting experiences and brought him to the level of the most powerful Governor in Egypt.

When his brothers feared revenge after their father’s death, the true man of God wasn’t even thinking about it. He prevented a new cycle of conflict by offering assurance and forgiveness. He assured his brothers they would be safe in his hands, for he saw that God had worked through their hatred and torture to bring about what He had already revealed in Joseph’s dreams—the very dreams for which they had hated him (Genesis 50:15-21). Joseph’s divine perspective prevented a bitter root of revenge from growing and causing new conflict.

Identify one relationship or situation in your life that has the potential for conflict or friction in the near future. This week, choose one strategic act of prevention inspired by this lesson.

Decide on your one action and commit to doing it this week.

Lord, grant me the wisdom of Jacob to be strategic, thoughtful, and proactive in preventing conflict. Give me a generous heart that seeks to bless, not just to be right. Grant me the perspective of Joseph, to see Your greater purpose in all things, so that I may choose forgiveness over revenge and grace over grievance. Help me to be a true peacemaker in my home, my work, and my community. In the name of Jesus, Amen.

James 4:1-3 (NIV): “What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.”

Genesis 13:8-9 (NIV): “So Abram said to Lot, ‘Let’s not have any quarreling between you and me, or between your herders and mine, for we are close relatives. Is not the whole land before you? Let’s part company. If you go to the left, I’ll go to the right; if you go to the right, I’ll go to the left.’”

We all face conflict. It happens in our homes and in our towns. It can feel like fighting is everywhere.

The book of James tells us why we fight. He says the cause is our own selfish wants. These wants battle inside us. We fight for what we want, not for what God wants. We want to win or be in control. This puts us against other people. When we don’t follow God’s way, we will have conflict.

But the Bible also shows us how to find peace. We see good examples in the lives of Abraham and Isaac.

In Genesis 13, Abraham had a problem. He and his nephew Lot had too many animals. The land was not big enough for both of them. Their workers began to fight.

Abraham was the leader. He could have taken the best land. But he spoke to Lot with kindness. He was not proud. Abraham cared more about his family than about land. He let Lot choose his land first. This stopped the fighting. Abraham trusted God to take care of him. What happened? God blessed Abraham right away. God gave him a promise that was better than any land.

Many years later, Abraham’s son Isaac had a similar problem. In Genesis 26, Isaac’s servants dug wells. But other men came and said, “That water is ours!”

They argued two times. Both times, Isaac did not fight back. He just moved and dug a new well. He named the wells after the arguments. This showed he saw the problem. But he did not let the problem control him.

He kept working for peace. Finally, he dug a well, and no one fought him. He named it “Rehoboth,” which means “room.” The fighting stopped. Isaac chose peace instead of fighting. Then God met with him. God blessed him and repeated His promise.

Isaac was not weak. He was strong in his faith. He believed God would provide for him, not just a well of water.

Abraham and Isaac show us a new way to handle conflict. James says fights come from a selfish heart. Abraham and Isaac show that peace comes from a heart that trusts God.

They chose to love people more than being right. They chose peace over property. They were willing to give in. This was not a weakness. They trusted God, who is bigger than any fight. They knew that giving up something small was worth it. It was a small price for peace and God’s lasting blessing.

Think of one fight or problem in your life. Don’t think about what you can win. Ask God to show you one small step to make peace this week.

You could start a calm talk. You could give something up, like Abraham. Or you could walk away from a fight, like Isaac. Write down your step and plan to do it.

Lord, I know many fights start in my own heart. Please forgive my selfish wants and my pride. Help me be humble and God-fearing, like Abraham. He wanted peace more than he wanted his own way.

Give me patience like Isaac, so I can keep seeking peace, even when others want to fight. Help me trust that you are my “Rehoboth.” You make room for me. You give me everything I need.

Please guide me. Help me be a peacemaker with my family, at my job, and with my neighbors. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Key Scripture 

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (NIV) 

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Devotional 

In a world torn apart by racism, tribalism, and all sorts of other malice, only transformed hearts with unconditional love will mend broken relationships. Throughout history, no one has been able to bring lasting hope on earth except for the son of God, Jesus Christ. Places that have resisted this saving grace have remained hostile to date. Even in our hearts, the more we yield to the leadership of Christ in our hearts and minds, the more we learn to love others unconditionally. The more we do this, the more people trust us, and the more cooperative they will be in working together to find solutions for any overarching challenges. 

This doesn’t mean when people submit to the Lordship of Christ all their problems are over. Before you can master the life of obedience and excellence, you are likely to face opposition first. In some cases, you may encounter targeted violence. If you are in leadership, the violent, corrupt, and unrelenting criminals could easily target you when they realize you will not compromise fairness and justice. So stay alert even as you try as much as possible to remain kind to everyone. 

God desires that we live in harmony with each other. Godliness is manifested in love and actions that demonstrate God’s concern for His people. Even those who are yet to find the truth and give their allegiance, they still deserve to be loved as though there’s hope for everyone. You might find a few communities still held up in hatred and

careless speech, completely divided even when they confess the same truth, but not recognizing the power of this same truth to unite them. Pray for them and move on; don’t judge or join them. Never desire to live such a life of unreasonable dissentions. May God give you wisdom. 

Questions for Reflection 

Action Step 

This week, identify one person or group of people you find difficult to love. Silently commit to practicing one specific attribute from 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 toward them. For example: 

Prayer Prompt

“Lord, thank you for showing me the ultimate example of unconditional love. Search my heart and reveal any area where I am a ‘clanging cymbal’—where my actions or faith lack genuine love. Fill me with Your Holy Spirit so I can love patiently and kindly. Give me the courage to stand for justice while remaining alert. Help me to not judge those caught in division but to pray for them. 

A Note on This Journey 

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” (Micah 6:8)

After learning the necessity of working with people in our previous lesson, we must now address how we work with them. It is essential to do so with fairness and justice.

Leading people requires understanding laws, culture, and basic economics. But a great challenge arises when people develop a self-seeking culture, believing that more study simply equals more salary, rather than greater service.

As a leader, you must build the organizational culture. Consider your organization—whether government, business, or Non-Governmental Organization—as your house. What do you want it to look like? This requires a foundation deeper than shallow policies. Failure to recognize God or adopt values aligned with His interest in fairness and justice creates great risk. God is concerned with how leaders govern. You do not want to build a wrong profile with Him.

To find lasting solutions, we must first establish laws that enhance fairness and justice, and then, most importantly, be living examples of following those laws.

We must also be careful not to foster a culture of harsh judgment. If you read this and feel it applies only to your leaders, at the expense of your own personal evaluation, that is a sign you could be worse in their position. Where you find dissatisfaction, pray for your leader. Do not expose their weaknesses; work with them to create the difference you desire. Violence and hatred are never the answer; they are indicators of backwardness, not wisdom.

Remember, a leader is not responsible for your personal transformation. We must each work on ourselves. If we remain violent, unfair, and abusive, our motives may not pass the test in prayer. We must change first.

For leaders, when you receive feedback, ask God for wisdom. You will not satisfy everyone. Use God-given wisdom to evaluate the genuineness of the feedback and limit the gap between you and the people you lead. You cannot successfully do this if you still think you are a hero. You must be humble before God and pray to Him personally. Building your own relationship with the Lord of Creation is paramount. God will talk to you as a leader. Do not let fear or strongholds prevent you from optimizing the potential He has given you.

Ultimately, your commitment to justice should be seen in your daily life—in how you handle matters at home, your peaceful co-existence with your neighbors, and how you relate to all of God’s creation.

This week, identify one area where you have been critical of a leader’s unfairness. Instead of just criticizing, do two things:

“Father, reveal any injustice, unfairness, or self-seeking motive in my own heart. Forgive me for judging my leaders while ignoring my own faults. Grant me the humility to walk with You. Lord, give me a heart that truly desires to act justly and love mercy.

“Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”

Romans 12:2 (NIV)

A child is born innocent, a blank slate ready to be written upon by parents, family, and society. As the provided text explains, we are all shaped by the world around us—our education, the media we consume, and the relationships we form. In the same way, many of us inherit our religion. We adopt the cultural rules, traditions, and ceremonies of our families and communities. We learn about God, but we can go decades without ever truly knowing Him.

This is the essence of human resistance. We conform to the patterns of the world, even religious patterns, but resist the call to be personally transformed. God’s desire is not for us to simply follow a set of cultural rules that differentiate us from others. He wants all of creation to obey Him and submit to the rule of His Son, Jesus Christ. This requires a conscious, intentional choice to move beyond just the membership type of faith.

A person can know about God and even teach about Him, but without a personal encounter, they “have no experience in the works of God.” This is a life of tradition, not transformation. It’s a life that can lead to being a “held-up Christian,” characterized by habits of self-satisfaction, obstinacy, and disobedience. This is a state of spiritual stagnation where we resist the very things that lead to growth.

To awaken is to realize that our salvation is personal. No one can carry the cross for you. It requires moving from the passive resistance of the “held-up” Christian to the active pursuit of the “growing” Christian. This is the path the Maker, Designer, and Lord of Hope desires for you. It is a path of intentional choices, built on seven key habits: Evaluation, Bible Study, Obedience, Fellowship, Prayer & Fasting, Trust, and Service. By embracing these habits, we stop resisting and start renewing our minds. We move from knowing about God to walking with God, finally understanding and living out His good, pleasing, and perfect will.

This week, commit to breaking one pattern of resistance by adopting the first habit of a growing Christian: Evaluation. Set aside 20 minutes of quiet time. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you one area where your spiritual growth is stunted. Write down what He reveals and identify one practical, intentional choice you will make this week to replace a “held-up” habit with a “growing” habit.

Maker, Designer, and Lord of Hope, thank you for creating me for a relationship with you. I confess that for too long, I have resisted your will by conforming to the patterns of the world and my own cultural traditions. I have been content to know about you without truly walking with you. Please awaken my spirit. Open my eyes to the habits of resistance and self-satisfaction in my life. Fill me with a hunger and thirst for righteousness, and give me the courage to intentionally choose You, to obey Your Word, and to submit fully to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Amen.

When embarking on any significant journey, especially one focused on reconciliation, the foundation you build upon is crucial. Just like constructing a house, you must choose between building on sand or on rock. Building on rock symbolizes a strong, unwavering foundation grounded in knowledge and truth.

Knowledge can be classified into three main types:

Each type of knowledge serves a purpose and contributes to a person’s scope of understanding.

As we pursue knowledge, we must remember that all knowledge should align with a greater purpose. For instance, advancements in medicine should be seen as a means to fulfill God’s desire to protect and heal humanity. Thus, the knowledge we acquire should be used responsibly and ethically.

The scriptures provide a foundation for understanding divine knowledge. Reading the Bible with the intent of grasping its teachings can transform our understanding and guide our actions. For example, Proverbs 1:20-23 and 2 Timothy 3:16-17 emphasize the importance of seeking wisdom and understanding through divine teachings.

Reflect on what changes you need to make in your life to ensure that you maintain a sense of reverence and responsibility.

Building your life on a strong foundation will help you navigate challenges and foster meaningful connections. As you continue this journey, remember to seek knowledge that aligns with divine purpose and leads you to a more fulfilling and responsible life.

Eli Brackenberry shares his transformative journey of faith and identity, revealing how an ordinary moment in his kitchen led to an extraordinary change in his life.

A Life Transformed
Eli, a father of seven and grandfather of four, recalls a pivotal moment when Jesus entered his life, saying, “I am tired of seeing a child of mine struggle, and I’m gonna take this walk with you.” This encounter changed everything for him. He acknowledges that for most of his life, he struggled to define his identity, often letting the world dictate who he was supposed to be.

Finding God in Midlife
Eli’s journey led him to write his fourth book, “Finding God at Fifty,” where he reflects on how surrendering control of his life to God allowed him to uncover his true identity. He explains,

 “I had tried everything else… But I didn’t ever turn to the one that created me.”

This realization brought him healing and the ability to be vulnerable with others, which he had previously found difficult.

The Power of Vulnerability
Eli emphasizes the importance of vulnerability, stating that true strength lies in surrendering to God. He shares his thoughts on how his earlier struggles shaped him, acknowledging,

“I was tired… I was lost.”

However, his willingness to embrace vulnerability opened doors to deeper connections and an understanding of his purpose.

Relationships Reimagined
Reflecting on his personal life, Eli discusses his relationship with his wife, whom he met when he was just thirteen. After enduring two divorces, he made a promise to fall in love with God before entering another romantic relationship. This commitment led him to a fulfilling partnership grounded in faith.

“It is truly given to me by God and I will defend her the way that Christ defended the church.”

Conclusion
Eli’s story is a testament to the power of faith and the profound changes it can bring. His journey from struggle to purpose inspires us to seek our own identity through the lens of faith.

For a deeper dive into Eli’s experiences and insights, listen to the full episode of the 40 Days of Reconciliation podcast. You can find Eli’s book and podcast on https://www.elibrackenbury.com/.

Eli Brackenberry shares his transformative journey of faith and identity, revealing how an ordinary moment in his kitchen led to an extraordinary change in his life.

A Life Transformed
Eli, a father of seven and grandfather of four, recalls a pivotal moment when Jesus entered his life, saying, “I am tired of seeing a child of mine struggle, and I’m gonna take this walk with you.” This encounter changed everything for him. He acknowledges that for most of his life, he struggled to define his identity, often letting the world dictate who he was supposed to be.

Finding God in Midlife
Eli’s journey led him to write his fourth book, “Finding God at Fifty,” where he reflects on how surrendering control of his life to God allowed him to uncover his true identity. He explains,

 “I had tried everything else… But I didn’t ever turn to the one that created me.”

This realization brought him healing and the ability to be vulnerable with others, which he had previously found difficult.

The Power of Vulnerability
Eli emphasizes the importance of vulnerability, stating that true strength lies in surrendering to God. He shares his thoughts on how his earlier struggles shaped him, acknowledging,

“I was tired… I was lost.”

However, his willingness to embrace vulnerability opened doors to deeper connections and an understanding of his purpose.

Relationships Reimagined
Reflecting on his personal life, Eli discusses his relationship with his wife, whom he met when he was just thirteen. After enduring two divorces, he made a promise to fall in love with God before entering another romantic relationship. This commitment led him to a fulfilling partnership grounded in faith.

“It is truly given to me by God and I will defend her the way that Christ defended the church.”

Conclusion
Eli’s story is a testament to the power of faith and the profound changes it can bring. His journey from struggle to purpose inspires us to seek our own identity through the lens of faith.

For a deeper dive into Eli’s experiences and insights, listen to the full episode of the 40 Days of Reconciliation podcast. You can find Eli’s book and podcast on https://www.elibrackenbury.com/.

Introduction to the Journey

The purpose of the 40 days of reconciliation journey is to help us understand the need to reconcile with God, his people, and awakening the heart of responsibility for his creation. And that will be a sign for our own transformation. So there are three key elements here: our own reconciliation with God, us living in peace with the people—because that’s what God requires of us—and the third one is growing in responsibility. How do we care for the people around us that God has created? How do we care for the environment that God has given us?

There are 40 days, and those are 40 lessons. You can take a lesson per day or one lesson a week. Please note that you can take this journey as an individual, family, church, or corporate during devotions or breakfast meetings.

The Story of Creation and Separation

We will begin by looking at the story of creation. We see that when God has created human beings, he is living in fellowship with them in that wonderful Garden of Eden. Then the snake, which is an embodiment of Satan, comes along and deceives Eve. Let’s focus on Eve at this moment. She wanders into the Garden of Eden by herself, meets the snake—which is the representation of Satan—and the snake confuses her by telling her that it is not true that she would die, or she and Adam would die, if they ate the forbidden fruit.

So eventually, now people are separated from God because they yielded to the works of Satan and did not follow what God wanted. As we start this journey of the 40 days of reconciliation, the purpose of bringing this chapter is to help you understand that actually, originally, we lived in fellowship with God. We were separated from God when Satan came in. We need to understand that here we have God the creator who loves us, but we also have Satan the enemy who hates us. Why he hates us, I cannot answer; that is for God to respond to, but we don’t have to be obsessed with the reason why he hates us. We need to look back at the history. You will find that Satan, for sure, wanted to cause human beings to revolt against God. Human beings also had their own desires to try and be like God—isn’t it what we try to do today?

The Bridge to Reconciliation

So here we need to understand that it is sin that separated us from God. It also gives us a signal that God hates sin. So you cannot continue sinning and think you will stay in the presence of God; it doesn’t work. You have to hate sin in order to stay in the presence of God. The purpose of this journey is to help us come back to that point of realizing sin separated us from God.

Therefore, we need Jesus Christ. Now we are jumping fast forward to bring in the figure of Jesus. Jesus Christ is the one who now helps to bridge this gap that was created by Adam and Eve. Because we are now running this podcast with this awareness that Jesus, of course, is there, that’s why we jump forward and bring in that story of Jesus Christ. As you will see in the upcoming episodes—the interviews—there is one interview we will give you which will be talking about Jesus Christ as the second Adam.

But right now, we want you to understand that the heart of this episode is for us to know that sin, or in other words, disobedience—that is, knowing what God wants you to do and you do not do it. Sometimes people ask what is sin, or they linger around sin because they don’t understand. It is as simple as not obeying God. You’ve heard with your own ears, you’ve seen with your own eyes, but you choose to walk the wrong way. So here we need to understand that sin will lead to separation. Separation will lead to suffering.

Podcast Access and Support

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