Can't Buy Me Love
- Jacob sends gift after gift ahead of himself because he is afraid of Esau's anger.
- He hopes these gifts will "appease" Esau and make peace between them.
- The Hebrew word translated "appease" is "kipper."
- This word comes from the same root associated with the biblical idea of atonement. Jacob is trying to deal with the offense that has broken his relationship with his brother.
- He is hoping that these gifts will somehow cover his wrong and restore peace. Jacob's actions give us a beautiful picture of a much greater Gospel reality.
- Our sin has created an offense between us and a holy God that we could never cover with enough good works, religious activity, or gifts.
- Jesus became our atoning sacrifice and made a way for our sin to be covered and our relationship with God to be restored. — Romans 3:23-26; 5:8-11; 2 Corinthians 5:18-21
- The Gospel is not that we found enough to appease God.
- The Gospel is that God gave what we could never give ourselves. He gave us His Son, who made atonement for us.
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