“then you are to say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift sent to my lord Esau, and he is coming behind us.’” — Genesis 32:18
Jacob anticipated a devastating attack from his brother Esau, who had been seeking revenge since the day Jacob deceitfully secured the blessing of the firstborn from their father Isaac. One of the strategies that Jacob employed in order to deter the attack was to send his angry brother gifts of cattle.
Jacob deliberately instructed his men to space out the gifts so that Esau would receive them repeatedly. By the time Jacob and Esau finally met, Esau’s heart had softened so that instead of attacking his brother, the two immediately embraced.
Sometimes in life, we encounter challenging people. But instead of engaging in conflict, we are better off offering kindness. When it comes to dealing with difficult people, offering kindness is a far more pleasant approach, and often enough, more effective one, too.
