6-8 Esau gathered up his wives, sons and daughters, and everybody in his household, along with all his livestock—all the animals and possessions he had gotten in Canaan—and moved a considerable distance away from his brother Jacob. The brothers had too many possessions to live together in the same place; the land couldn't support their combined herds of livestock. So Esau ended up settling in the hill country of Seir (Esau and Edom are the same). (The Message)
This time Esau and Jacob seem to part on good terms. Both brothers have become very successful and they can't live and work next to each other without competing against one another so it is time to move on. Esau moves on and the rest of the chapter lists his descendants.
There are times that we might find it necessary to move on from what it familiar as Esau did because staying put doesn't allow us to grow into what we are to become. The decision to move on isn't one that comes easy or is made over night. There is just something that tells us that if we don't move into other areas we will begin to stagnate and not fully realize our potential. In moving on both Esau and Jacob are able to grow in a way that would not have been possible had they stayed in the same area.
I would add a note of caution here as well: Esau did not leave behind those whom he was responsible for. His commitment to his immediate family was a priority and he made sure that they were provided for as they traveled with him. God did not call him to leave behind the people he had made a commitment to love and protect.
Some thoughts to ponder and share with others:
- Now that Esau and Jacob have reconnected what do you think this parting might have been like?
- What would you have thought if you were one of Esau's family at the prospect of picking up to move to a new place?
- If you have ever moved far away from family what was it like for you?
- What places might God be inviting you to pack up and move away from so that you might flourish?
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