Reconciliation a bible study

 

            I am led to do this study to show by stories in the bible of people reconciling differences with each other by varied means and other related scriptures in the bible on the subject of reconciliation that reconciliation is indeed possible between parties almost no matter what, often only with God’s help and blessing in the matter. Nothing is ever too hard for Him to accomplish, ever. Reconciliation requires forgiveness of any offenses, and often times can also require restitution to be made for things stolen, lost, and so forth, though sometimes people can sometimes be reconciled without restitution of some form being made, but restitution can help matters in terms of reconciliation, for it further shows the person who was offended that the offender really wants to be reconciled to them.

The first example of reconciliation comes in Genesis 16 where an angel has Hagar, Sarai’s maid go back to Sarai and Abraham, promising that her soon to be son would have innumerable offspring:

(Genesis 16:1)  Now Sarai, Abram's wife, had borne him no children. She had a female Egyptian servant whose name was Hagar.

 

(Genesis 16:2)  And Sarai said to Abram, "Behold now, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Go in to my servant; it may be that I shall obtain children by her." And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

 

(Genesis 16:3)  So, after Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Sarai, Abram's wife, took Hagar the Egyptian, her servant, and gave her to Abram her husband as a wife.

 

(Genesis 16:4)  And he went in to Hagar, and she conceived. And when she saw that she had conceived, she looked with contempt on her mistress.

 

(Genesis 16:5)  And Sarai said to Abram, "May the wrong done to me be on you! I gave my servant to your embrace, and when she saw that she had conceived, she looked on me with contempt. May the LORD judge between you and me!"

 

(Genesis 16:6)  But Abram said to Sarai, "Behold, your servant is in your power; do to her as you please." Then Sarai dealt harshly with her, and she fled from her.

 

(Genesis 16:7)  The angel of the LORD found her by a spring of water in the wilderness, the spring on the way to Shur.

 

(Genesis 16:8)  And he said, "Hagar, servant of Sarai, where have you come from and where are you going?" She said, "I am fleeing from my mistress Sarai."

 

(Genesis 16:9)  The angel of the LORD said to her, "Return to your mistress and submit to her."

 

(Genesis 16:10)  The angel of the LORD also said to her, "I will surely multiply your offspring so that they cannot be numbered for multitude."

 

(Genesis 16:11)  And the angel of the LORD said to her, "Behold, you are pregnant and shall bear a son. You shall call his name Ishmael, because the LORD has listened to your affliction.

 

(Genesis 16:12)  He shall be a wild donkey of a man, his hand against everyone and everyone's hand against him, and he shall dwell over against all his kinsmen."

 

(Genesis 16:13)  So she called the name of the LORD who spoke to her, "You are a God of seeing," for she said, "Truly here I have seen him who looks after me."

 

(Genesis 16:14)  Therefore the well was called Beer-lahai-roi; it lies between Kadesh and Bered.

 

(Genesis 16:15)  And Hagar bore Abram a son, and Abram called the name of his son, whom Hagar bore, Ishmael.

 

(Genesis 16:16)  Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.

 

With the help of the Lord Isaac and herdsmen of Gerar who had initially disputed wells that Isaac dug, then recognized God’s favor on Isaac and the became reconciled making a covenant between them:

(Genesis 26:18)  And Isaac dug again the wells of water that had been dug in the days of Abraham his father, which the Philistines had stopped after the death of Abraham. And he gave them the names that his father had given them.

 

(Genesis 26:19)  But when Isaac's servants dug in the valley and found there a well of spring water,

 

(Genesis 26:20)  the herdsmen of Gerar quarreled with Isaac's herdsmen, saying, "The water is ours." So he called the name of the well Esek, because they contended with him.

 

(Genesis 26:21)  Then they dug another well, and they quarreled over that also, so he called its name Sitnah.

 

(Genesis 26:22)  And he moved from there and dug another well, and they did not quarrel over it. So he called its name Rehoboth, saying, "For now the LORD has made room for us, and we shall be fruitful in the land."

 

(Genesis 26:23)  From there he went up to Beersheba.

 

(Genesis 26:24)  And the LORD appeared to him the same night and said, "I am the God of Abraham your father. Fear not, for I am with you and will bless you and multiply your offspring for my servant Abraham's sake."

 

(Genesis 26:25)  So he built an altar there and called upon the name of the LORD and pitched his tent there. And there Isaac's servants dug a well.

 

(Genesis 26:26)  When Abimelech went to him from Gerar with Ahuzzath his adviser and Phicol the commander of his army,

 

(Genesis 26:27)  Isaac said to them, "Why have you come to me, seeing that you hate me and have sent me away from you?"

 

(Genesis 26:28)  They said, "We see plainly that the LORD has been with you. So we said, let there be a sworn pact between us, between you and us, and let us make a covenant with you,

 

(Genesis 26:29)  that you will do us no harm, just as we have not touched you and have done to you nothing but good and have sent you away in peace. You are now the blessed of the LORD."

 

(Genesis 26:30)  So he made them a feast, and they ate and drank.

 

(Genesis 26:31)  In the morning they rose early and exchanged oaths. And Isaac sent them on their way, and they departed from him in peace.

 

Here is the story of Jacob and Laban reconciling after Jacob suddenly fled from Laban without notice, Laban would pursue and God would then intervene to be sure that nothing happened to Jacob and the two would eventually make a covenant:

(Genesis 31:19)  Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father's household gods.

 

(Genesis 31:20)  And Jacob tricked Laban the Aramean, by not telling him that he intended to flee.

 

(Genesis 31:21)  He fled with all that he had and arose and crossed the Euphrates, and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead.

 

(Genesis 31:22)  When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled,

 

(Genesis 31:23)  he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him for seven days and followed close after him into the hill country of Gilead.

 

(Genesis 31:24)  But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night and said to him, "Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad."

 

(Genesis 31:25)  And Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban with his kinsmen pitched tents in the hill country of Gilead.

 

(Genesis 31:26)  And Laban said to Jacob, "What have you done, that you have tricked me and driven away my daughters like captives of the sword?

 

(Genesis 31:27)  Why did you flee secretly and trick me, and did not tell me, so that I might have sent you away with mirth and songs, with tambourine and lyre?

 

(Genesis 31:28)  And why did you not permit me to kiss my sons and my daughters farewell? Now you have done foolishly.

 

(Genesis 31:29)  It is in my power to do you harm. But the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, 'Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.'

 

(Genesis 31:30)  And now you have gone away because you longed greatly for your father's house, but why did you steal my gods?"

 

(Genesis 31:31)  Jacob answered and said to Laban, "Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force.

 

(Genesis 31:32)  Anyone with whom you find your gods shall not live. In the presence of our kinsmen point out what I have that is yours, and take it." Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.

 

(Genesis 31:33)  So Laban went into Jacob's tent and into Leah's tent and into the tent of the two female servants, but he did not find them. And he went out of Leah's tent and entered Rachel's.

 

(Genesis 31:34)  Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them in the camel's saddle and sat on them. Laban felt all about the tent, but did not find them.

 

(Genesis 31:35)  And she said to her father, "Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise before you, for the way of women is upon me." So he searched but did not find the household gods.

 

(Genesis 31:36)  Then Jacob became angry and berated Laban. Jacob said to Laban, "What is my offense? What is my sin, that you have hotly pursued me?

 

(Genesis 31:37)  For you have felt through all my goods; what have you found of all your household goods? Set it here before my kinsmen and your kinsmen, that they may decide between us two.

 

(Genesis 31:38)  These twenty years I have been with you. Your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried, and I have not eaten the rams of your flocks.

 

(Genesis 31:39)  What was torn by wild beasts I did not bring to you. I bore the loss of it myself. From my hand you required it, whether stolen by day or stolen by night.

 

(Genesis 31:40)  There I was: by day the heat consumed me, and the cold by night, and my sleep fled from my eyes.

 

(Genesis 31:41)  These twenty years I have been in your house. I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times.

 

(Genesis 31:42)  If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been on my side, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God saw my affliction and the labor of my hands and rebuked you last night."

 

(Genesis 31:43)  Then Laban answered and said to Jacob, "The daughters are my daughters, the children are my children, the flocks are my flocks, and all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day for these my daughters or for their children whom they have borne?

 

(Genesis 31:44)  Come now, let us make a covenant, you and I. And let it be a witness between you and me."

 

(Genesis 31:45)  So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar.

 

(Genesis 31:46)  And Jacob said to his kinsmen, "Gather stones." And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there by the heap.

 

(Genesis 31:47)  Laban called it Jegar-sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed.

 

(Genesis 31:48)  Laban said, "This heap is a witness between you and me today." Therefore he named it Galeed,

 

(Genesis 31:49)  and Mizpah, for he said, "The LORD watch between you and me, when we are out of one another's sight.

 

(Genesis 31:50)  If you oppress my daughters, or if you take wives besides my daughters, although no one is with us, see, God is witness between you and me."

 

(Genesis 31:51)  Then Laban said to Jacob, "See this heap and the pillar, which I have set between you and me.

 

(Genesis 31:52)  This heap is a witness, and the pillar is a witness, that I will not pass over this heap to you, and you will not pass over this heap and this pillar to me, to do harm.

 

(Genesis 31:53)  The God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us." So Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac,

 

(Gen 31:54)  and Jacob offered a sacrifice in the hill country and called his kinsmen to eat bread. They ate bread and spent the night in the hill country.

 

(Genesis 31:55)  Early in the morning Laban arose and kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned home.

 

As the story relates below there would eventually indeed be some reconciliation between Jacob and Esau. Jacob had initially tricked Esau into selling his birthright, then stole his first borne blessing from Esau, making Esau mad enough to kill him, Jacob would flee for his life, then after twenty years Jacob would come back. Esau came out with hundreds of men but their meeting was peaceful and there was some reconciliation and agreement between the two men:

(Genesis 33:1)  And Jacob lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold, Esau was coming, and four hundred men with him. So he divided the children among Leah and Rachel and the two female servants.

 

(Genesis 33:2)  And he put the servants with their children in front, then Leah with her children, and Rachel and Joseph last of all.

 

(Genesis 33:3)  He himself went on before them, bowing himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

 

(Genesis 33:4)  But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.

 

(Genesis 33:5)  And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, "Who are these with you?" Jacob said, "The children whom God has graciously given your servant."

 

(Genesis 33:6)  Then the servants drew near, they and their children, and bowed down.

 

(Genesis 33:7)  Leah likewise and her children drew near and bowed down. And last Joseph and Rachel drew near, and they bowed down.

 

(Genesis 33:8)  Esau said, "What do you mean by all this company that I met?" Jacob answered, "To find favor in the sight of my lord."

 

(Genesis 33:9)  But Esau said, "I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself."

 

(Genesis 33:10)  Jacob said, "No, please, if I have found favor in your sight, then accept my present from my hand. For I have seen your face, which is like seeing the face of God, and you have accepted me.

 

(Genesis 33:11)  Please accept my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough." Thus he urged him, and he took it.

 

(Genesis 33:12)  Then Esau said, "Let us journey on our way, and I will go ahead of you."

 

(Genesis 33:13)  But Jacob said to him, "My lord knows that the children are frail, and that the nursing flocks and herds are a care to me. If they are driven hard for one day, all the flocks will die.

 

(Genesis 33:14)  Let my lord pass on ahead of his servant, and I will lead on slowly, at the pace of the livestock that are ahead of me and at the pace of the children, until I come to my lord in Seir."

 

(Genesis 33:15)  So Esau said, "Let me leave with you some of the people who are with me." But he said, "What need is there? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord."

 

(Genesis 33:16)  So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.

 

(Genesis 33:17)  But Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built himself a house and made booths for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.

 

(Genesis 33:18)  And Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, on his way from Paddan-aram, and he camped before the city.

 

(Genesis 33:19)  And from the sons of Hamor, Shechem's father, he bought for a hundred pieces of money the piece of land on which he had pitched his tent.

 

(Genesis 33:20)  There he erected an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.

 

Then, after Joseph was sold as a slave by his own brethren because of their envy and jealousy towards Joseph and taken to Egypt to be a slave there to the Pharaoh,  the Lord would eventually arrange for the reconciliation of both Joseph and his brethren and also Joseph and his father even, who thought he was dead, first with his brothers, in Genesis 45 when Joseph finally opens up to reveal to his brethren that he is indeed their brother and that God allowed all this  to happen for everyone’s good, essentially completely forgiving them for selling him off as a slave.

(Genesis 45:1)  Then Joseph could not control himself before all those who stood by him. He cried, "Make everyone go out from me." So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers.

 

(Genesis 45:2)  And he wept aloud, so that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it.

 

(Genesis 45:3)  And Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph! Is my father still alive?" But his brothers could not answer him, for they were dismayed at his presence.

 

(Genesis 45:4)  So Joseph said to his brothers, "Come near to me, please." And they came near. And he said, "I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt.

 

(Genesis 45:5)  And now do not be distressed or angry with yourselves because you sold me here, for God sent me before you to preserve life.

 

(Genesis 45:6)  For the famine has been in the land these two years, and there are yet five years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest.

 

(Genesis 45:7)  And God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors.

 

(Genesis 45:8)  So it was not you who sent me here, but God. He has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt.

 

(Genesis 45:9)  Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, 'Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt. Come down to me; do not tarry.

 

(Genesis 45:10)  You shall dwell in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children's children, and your flocks, your herds, and all that you have.

 

(Genesis 45:11)  There I will provide for you, for there are yet five years of famine to come, so that you and your household, and all that you have, do not come to poverty.'

 

(Genesis 45:12)  And now your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see, that it is my mouth that speaks to you.

 

(Genesis 45:13)  You must tell my father of all my honor in Egypt, and of all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here."

 

(Genesis 45:14)  Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, and Benjamin wept upon his neck.

 

(Genesis 45:15)  And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them. After that his brothers talked with him.

 

(Genesis 45:16)  When the report was heard in Pharaoh's house, "Joseph's brothers have come," it pleased Pharaoh and his servants.

 

(Genesis 45:17)  And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "Say to your brothers, 'Do this: load your beasts and go back to the land of Canaan,

 

(Genesis 45:18)  and take your father and your households, and come to me, and I will give you the best of the land of Egypt, and you shall eat the fat of the land.'

 

(Genesis 45:19)  And you, Joseph, are commanded to say, 'Do this: take wagons from the land of Egypt for your little ones and for your wives, and bring your father, and come.

 

(Genesis 45:20)  Have no concern for your goods, for the best of all the land of Egypt is yours.'"

 

(Genesis 45:21)  The sons of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the command of Pharaoh, and gave them provisions for the journey.

 

(Genesis 45:22)  To each and all of them he gave a change of clothes, but to Benjamin he gave three hundred shekels of silver and five changes of clothes.

 

(Genesis 45:23)  To his father he sent as follows: ten donkeys loaded with the good things of Egypt, and ten female donkeys loaded with grain, bread, and provision for his father on the journey.

 

(Genesis 45:24)  Then he sent his brothers away, and as they departed, he said to them, "Do not quarrel on the way."

 

(Genesis 45:25)  So they went up out of Egypt and came to the land of Canaan to their father Jacob.

 

(Genesis 45:26)  And they told him, "Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt." And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them.

 

(Genesis 45:27)  But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived.

 

(Genesis 45:28)  And Israel said, "It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."

 

Then in Genesis 46 Joseph’s father and all those are with him journey to live in Egypt, in Goshen and Israel (Jac0b) where he(Jacob) and his son Joseph are reconciled even though Israel was led to believe Joseph was slain and devoured by beasts years ago when his brothers sold him off to slavery (see Genesis chapter 37)

(Genesis 46:1)  So Israel took his journey with all that he had and came to Beersheba, and offered sacrifices to the God of his father Isaac.

 

(Genesis 46:2)  And God spoke to Israel in visions of the night and said, "Jacob, Jacob." And he said, "Here am I."

 

(Genesis 46:3)  Then he said, "I am God, the God of your father. Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make you into a great nation.

 

(Genesis 46:4)  I myself will go down with you to Egypt, and I will also bring you up again, and Joseph's hand shall close your eyes."

 

(Genesis 46:5)  Then Jacob set out from Beersheba. The sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons that Pharaoh had sent to carry him.

 

(Genesis 46:6)  They also took their livestock and their goods, which they had gained in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt, Jacob and all his offspring with him,

 

(Genesis 46:7)  his sons, and his sons' sons with him, his daughters, and his sons' daughters. All his offspring he brought with him into Egypt.

 

(Genesis 46:8)  Now these are the names of the descendants of Israel, who came into Egypt, Jacob and his sons. Reuben, Jacob's firstborn,

 

(Genesis 46:9)  and the sons of Reuben: Hanoch, Pallu, Hezron, and Carmi.

 

(Genesis 46:10)  The sons of Simeon: Jemuel, Jamin, Ohad, Jachin, Zohar, and Shaul, the son of a Canaanite woman.

 

(Genesis 46:11)  The sons of Levi: Gershon, Kohath, and Merari.

 

(Genesis 46:12)  The sons of Judah: Er, Onan, Shelah, Perez, and Zerah (but Er and Onan died in the land of Canaan); and the sons of Perez were Hezron and Hamul.

 

(Genesis 46:13)  The sons of Issachar: Tola, Puvah, Yob, and Shimron.

 

(Genesis 46:14)  The sons of Zebulun: Sered, Elon, and Jahleel.

 

(Genesis 46:15)  These are the sons of Leah, whom she bore to Jacob in Paddan-aram, together with his daughter Dinah; altogether his sons and his daughters numbered thirty-three.

 

(Genesis 46:16)  The sons of Gad: Ziphion, Haggi, Shuni, Ezbon, Eri, Arodi, and Areli.

 

(Genesis 46:17)  The sons of Asher: Imnah, Ishvah, Ishvi, Beriah, with Serah their sister. And the sons of Beriah: Heber and Malchiel.

 

(Genesis 46:18)  These are the sons of Zilpah, whom Laban gave to Leah his daughter; and these she bore to Jacob--sixteen persons.

 

(Genesis 46:19)  The sons of Rachel, Jacob's wife: Joseph and Benjamin.

 

(Genesis 46:20)  And to Joseph in the land of Egypt were born Manasseh and Ephraim, whom Asenath, the daughter of Potiphera the priest of On, bore to him.

 

(Genesis 46:21)  And the sons of Benjamin: Bela, Becher, Ashbel, Gera, Naaman, Ehi, Rosh, Muppim, Huppim, and Ard.

 

(Genesis 46:22)  These are the sons of Rachel, who were born to Jacob--fourteen persons in all.

 

(Genesis 46:23)  The sons of Dan: Hushim.

 

(Genesis 46:24)  The sons of Naphtali: Jahzeel, Guni, Jezer, and Shillem.

 

(Genesis 46:25)  These are the sons of Bilhah, whom Laban gave to Rachel his daughter, and these she bore to Jacob--seven persons in all.

 

(Genesis 46:26)  All the persons belonging to Jacob who came into Egypt, who were his own descendants, not including Jacob's sons' wives, were sixty-six persons in all.

 

(Genesis 46:27)  And the sons of Joseph, who were born to him in Egypt, were two. All the persons of the house of Jacob who came into Egypt were seventy.

 

(Genesis 46:28)  He had sent Judah ahead of him to Joseph to show the way before him in Goshen, and they came into the land of Goshen.

 

(Genesis 46:29)  Then Joseph prepared his chariot and went up to meet Israel his father in Goshen. He presented himself to him and fell on his neck and wept on his neck a good while.

 

(Genesis 46:30)  Israel said to Joseph, "Now let me die, since I have seen your face and know that you are still alive."

 

(Genesis 46:31)  Joseph said to his brothers and to his father's household, "I will go up and tell Pharaoh and will say to him, 'My brothers and my father's household, who were in the land of Canaan, have come to me.

 

(Genesis 46:32)  And the men are shepherds, for they have been keepers of livestock, and they have brought their flocks and their herds and all that they have.'

 

(Genesis 46:33)  When Pharaoh calls you and says, 'What is your occupation?'

 

(Genesis 46:34)  you shall say, 'Your servants have been keepers of livestock from our youth even until now, both we and our fathers,' in order that you may dwell in the land of Goshen, for every shepherd is an abomination to the Egyptians."

 

 David and Saul attempted reconciliation too, even though Saul was continually trying to kill David, but David absolutely refused to kill Saul no matter what even though David had his chances to kill him or have his men kill him more than once. David wanted God to be the judge on the situation, and even for reconciliation to take place:

(1 Samuel 24:4)  And the men of David said to him, "Here is the day of which the LORD said to you, 'Behold, I will give your enemy into your hand, and you shall do to him as it shall seem good to you.'" Then David arose and stealthily cut off a corner of Saul's robe.

 

(1 Samuel 24:5)  And afterward David's heart struck him, because he had cut off a corner of Saul's robe.

 

(1 Samuel 24:6)  He said to his men, "The LORD forbid that I should do this thing to my lord, the LORD's anointed, to put out my hand against him, seeing he is the LORD's anointed."

 

(1 Samuel 24:7)  So David persuaded his men with these words and did not permit them to attack Saul. And Saul rose up and left the cave and went on his way.

 

(1 Samuel 24:8)  Afterward David also arose and went out of the cave, and called after Saul, "My lord the king!" And when Saul looked behind him, David bowed with his face to the earth and paid homage.

 

(1 Samuel 24:9)  And David said to Saul, "Why do you listen to the words of men who say, 'Behold, David seeks your harm'?

 

(1 Samuel 24:10)  Behold, this day your eyes have seen how the LORD gave you today into my hand in the cave. And some told me to kill you, but I spared you. I said, 'I will not put out my hand against my lord, for he is the LORD's anointed.'

 

(1 Samuel 24:11)  See, my father, see the corner of your robe in my hand. For by the fact that I cut off the corner of your robe and did not kill you, you may know and see that there is no wrong or treason in my hands. I have not sinned against you, though you hunt my life to take it.

 

(1 Samuel 24:12)  May the LORD judge between me and you, may the LORD avenge me against you, but my hand shall not be against you.

 

(1 Samuel 24:13)  As the proverb of the ancients says, 'Out of the wicked comes wickedness.' But my hand shall not be against you.

 

(1 Samuel 24:14)  After whom has the king of Israel come out? After whom do you pursue? After a dead dog! After a flea!

 

(1 Samuel 24:15)  May the LORD therefore be judge and give sentence between me and you, and see to it and plead my cause and deliver me from your hand."

 

(1 Samuel 24:16)  As soon as David had finished speaking these words to Saul, Saul said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And Saul lifted up his voice and wept.

 

(1 Samuel 24:17)  He said to David, "You are more righteous than I, for you have repaid me good, whereas I have repaid you evil.

 

(1 Samuel 24:18)  And you have declared this day how you have dealt well with me, in that you did not kill me when the LORD put me into your hands.

 

(1 Samuel 24:19)  For if a man finds his enemy, will he let him go away safe? So may the LORD reward you with good for what you have done to me this day.

 

(1 Samuel 24:20)  And now, behold, I know that you shall surely be king, and that the kingdom of Israel shall be established in your hand.

 

(1 Samuel 24:21)  Swear to me therefore by the LORD that you will not cut off my offspring after me, and that you will not destroy my name out of my father's house."

 

(1 Samuel 24:22)  And David swore this to Saul. Then Saul went home, but David and his men went up to the stronghold.

 

Here again in 1 Samuel 26 David again refuses to kill Saul, not letting another kill him,  in fact  in this passage Saul repented of trying to kill David, vowing to not seek David’s life any more,  and the men do find some reconciliation

(1 Samuel 26:6)  Then David said to Ahimelech the Hittite, and to Joab's brother Abishai the son of Zeruiah, "Who will go down with me into the camp to Saul?" And Abishai said, "I will go down with you."

 

(1 Samuel 26:7)  So David and Abishai went to the army by night. And there lay Saul sleeping within the encampment, with his spear stuck in the ground at his head, and Abner and the army lay around him.

 

(1 Samuel 26:8)  Then said Abishai to David, "God has given your enemy into your hand this day. Now please let me pin him to the earth with one stroke of the spear, and I will not strike him twice."

 

(1 Samuel 26:9)  But David said to Abishai, "Do not destroy him, for who can put out his hand against the LORD's anointed and be guiltless?"

 

(1 Samuel 26:10)  And David said, "As the LORD lives, the LORD will strike him, or his day will come to die, or he will go down into battle and perish.

 

(1 Samuel 26:11)  The LORD forbid that I should put out my hand against the LORD's anointed. But take now the spear that is at his head and the jar of water, and let us go."

 

(1 Samuel 26:12)  So David took the spear and the jar of water from Saul's head, and they went away. No man saw it or knew it, nor did any awake, for they were all asleep, because a deep sleep from the LORD had fallen upon them.

 

(1 Samuel 26:13)  Then David went over to the other side and stood far off on the top of the hill, with a great space between them.

 

(1 Samuel 26:14)  And David called to the army, and to Abner the son of Ner, saying, "Will you not answer, Abner?" Then Abner answered, "Who are you who calls to the king?"

 

(1 Samuel 26:15)  And David said to Abner, "Are you not a man? Who is like you in Israel? Why then have you not kept watch over your lord the king? For one of the people came in to destroy the king your lord.

 

(1 Samuel 26:16)  This thing that you have done is not good. As the LORD lives, you deserve to die, because you have not kept watch over your lord, the LORD's anointed. And now see where the king's spear is and the jar of water that was at his head."

 

(1 Samuel 26:17)  Saul recognized David's voice and said, "Is this your voice, my son David?" And David said, "It is my voice, my lord, O king."

 

(1 Samuel 26:18)  And he said, "Why does my lord pursue after his servant? For what have I done? What evil is on my hands?

 

(1 Samuel 26:19)  Now therefore let my lord the king hear the words of his servant. If it is the LORD who has stirred you up against me, may he accept an offering, but if it is men, may they be cursed before the LORD, for they have driven me out this day that I should have no share in the heritage of the LORD, saying, 'Go, serve other gods.'

 

(1 Samuel 26:20)  Now therefore, let not my blood fall to the earth away from the presence of the LORD, for the king of Israel has come out to seek a single flea like one who hunts a partridge in the mountains."

 

(1 Samuel 26:21)  Then Saul said, "I have sinned. Return, my son David, for I will no more do you harm, because my life was precious in your eyes this day. Behold, I have acted foolishly, and have made a great mistake."

 

(1 Samuel 26:22)  And David answered and said, "Here is the spear, O king! Let one of the young men come over and take it.

 

(1 Samuel 26:23)  The LORD rewards every man for his righteousness and his faithfulness, for the LORD gave you into my hand today, and I would not put out my hand against the LORD's anointed.

 

(1 Samuel 26:24)  Behold, as your life was precious this day in my sight, so may my life be precious in the sight of the LORD, and may he deliver me out of all tribulation."

 

(1 Samuel 26:25)  Then Saul said to David, "Blessed be you, my son David! You will do many things and will succeed in them." So David went his way, and Saul returned to his place.

 

Here Jesus tells the perfect reconciliation parable, that of the prodigal son, who goes off and wastes the inheritance that his father gives him in advance and yet the father welcomes him back too, as a son, and not as a servant as the repentant son had wished for. This parable is an excellent lesson to all of us.

(Luke 15:11)  And he said, "There was a man who had two sons.

 

(Luke 15:12)  And the younger of them said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of property that is coming to me.' And he divided his property between them.

 

(Luke 15:13)  Not many days later, the younger son gathered all he had and took a journey into a far country, and there he squandered his property in reckless living.

 

(Luke 15:14)  And when he had spent everything, a severe famine arose in that country, and he began to be in need.

 

(Luke 15:15)  So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him into his fields to feed pigs.

 

(Luke 15:16)  And he was longing to be fed with the pods that the pigs ate, and no one gave him anything.

 

(Luke 15:17)  "But when he came to himself, he said, 'How many of my father's hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger!

 

(Luke 15:18)  I will arise and go to my father, and I will say to him, "Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you.

 

(Luke 15:19)  I am no longer worthy to be called your son. Treat me as one of your hired servants."'

 

(Luke 15:20)  And he arose and came to his father. But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and felt compassion, and ran and embraced him and kissed him.

 

(Luke 15:21)  And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.'

 

(Luke 15:22)  But the father said to his servants, 'Bring quickly the best robe, and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet.

 

(Luke 15:23)  And bring the fattened calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate.

 

(Luke 15:24)  For this my son was dead, and is alive again; he was lost, and is found.' And they began to celebrate.

 

(Luke 15:25)  "Now his older son was in the field, and as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing.

 

(Luke 15:26)  And he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant.

 

(Luke 15:27)  And he said to him, 'Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fattened calf, because he has received him back safe and sound.'

 

(Luke 15:28)  But he was angry and refused to go in. His father came out and entreated him,

 

(Luke 15:29)  but he answered his father, 'Look, these many years I have served you, and I never disobeyed your command, yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might celebrate with my friends.

 

(Luke 15:30)  But when this son of yours came, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fattened calf for him!'

 

(Luke 15:31)  And he said to him, 'Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.

 

(Luke 15:32)  It was fitting to celebrate and be glad, for this your brother was dead, and is alive; he was lost, and is found.'"

 

God really does want people to reconcile their differences for look at what Jesus says in Matthew chapter 5 about taking care of something that a brother has against them before offering something at the altar:

(Matthew 5:23)  So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,

 

(Matthew 5:24)  leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

 

(Matthew 5:25)  Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison.

 

(Matthew 5:26)  Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

 

The following verses and then a parable show strongly how God values reconciling differences with one another, values forgiveness of any offenses, and hates unforgiveness, the holding of grudges and refusing to forgive offenses:

(Matthew 18:15)  "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.

 

(Matthew 18:16)  But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses.

 

(Matthew 18:17)  If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

 

(Matthew 18:18)  Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.

 

(Matthew 18:19)  Again I say to you, if two of you agree on earth about anything they ask, it will be done for them by my Father in heaven.

 

(Matthew 18:20)  For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them."

 

(Matthew 18:21)  Then Peter came up and said to him, "Lord, how often will my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? As many as seven times?"

 

(Matthew 18:22)  Jesus said to him, "I do not say to you seven times, but seventy times seven.

 

(Matthew 18:23)  "Therefore the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his servants.

 

(Matthew 18:24)  When he began to settle, one was brought to him who owed him ten thousand talents.

 

(Matthew 18:25)  And since he could not pay, his master ordered him to be sold, with his wife and children and all that he had, and payment to be made.

 

(Matthew 18:26)  So the servant fell on his knees, imploring him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.'

 

(Matthew 18:27)  And out of pity for him, the master of that servant released him and forgave him the debt.

 

(Matthew 18:28)  But when that same servant went out, he found one of his fellow servants who owed him a hundred denarii, and seizing him, he began to choke him, saying, 'Pay what you owe.'

 

(Matthew 18:29)  So his fellow servant fell down and pleaded with him, 'Have patience with me, and I will pay you.'

 

(Matthew 18:30)  He refused and went and put him in prison until he should pay the debt.

 

(Matthew 18:31)  When his fellow servants saw what had taken place, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their master all that had taken place.

 

(Matthew 18:32)  Then his master summoned him and said to him, 'You wicked servant! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me.

 

(Matthew 18:33)  And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?'

 

(Matthew 18:34)  And in anger his master delivered him to the jailers, until he should pay all his debt.

 

(Matthew 18:35)  So also my heavenly Father will do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother from your heart."

 

Also the first four verses in Luke 17 further drive home the same point on reconciliation and forgiveness, but also say that we are allowed to rebuke an offender when they do offend us, because a loving rebuke can easily lead to the offender repenting of his/her wrongdoing and offending his/her brother/sister:

(Luke 17:1)  And he said to his disciples, "Temptations to sin are sure to come, but woe to the one through whom they come!

 

(Luke 17:2)  It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of these little ones to sin.

 

(Luke 17:3)  Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him,

 

(Luke 17:4)  and if he sins against you seven times in the day, and turns to you seven times, saying, 'I repent,' you must forgive him."

 

In Job, the Lord made the friends offer a burnt offering to reconcile themselves both with God and with Job:

(Job 42:7)  After the LORD had spoken these words to Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite: "My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.

 

(Job 42:8)  Now therefore take seven bulls and seven rams and go to my servant Job and offer up a burnt offering for yourselves. And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has."

 

(Job 42:9)  So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did what the LORD had told them, and the LORD accepted Job's prayer.

 

These next verses talk about Christ being the offering reconciling us to God but also giving us a ministry of reconciliation to reconcile the differences that people can have between each other :

(2 Corinthians 5:14)  For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;

 

(2 Corinthians 5:15)  and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

 

(2 Corinthians 5:16)  From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer.

 

(2 Corinthians 5:17)  Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

 

(2 Corinthians 5:18)  All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

 

(2 Corinthians 5:19)  that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.

 

(2 Corinthians 5:20)  Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

 

(2 Corinthians 5:21)  For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

 

Here is this message in Hebrews for peace and also reconciliation:

(Hebrews 12:11)  For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

 

(Hebrews 12:12)  Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,

 

(Hebrews 12:13)  and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

 

(Hebrews 12:14)  Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.

 

(Hebrews 12:15)  See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no "root of bitterness" springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

 

Here is a final word from Ephesians on forgiveness, reconciliation and keeping it:

(Ephesians 4:29)  Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

 

(Ephesians 4:30)  And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.

 

(Ephesians 4:31)  Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

 

(Ephesians 4:32)  Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

 

In the bible stories above we see many situations where people are indeed able to reconcile their differences often coming to an agreement even a covenant even though there have been some pretty grievous offenses committed in some of them. Also there are encouragements and commands to seek reconciliation and forgiveness of offenses.

As I said above all things are possible through God, who wants people to be at peace with each other, reconciling their differences.

Below I am sharing a prayer from a website to help us to be the ambassadors of reconciliation that the Lord wants us to be, and also has enabled us to be through His grace and mercy so please do pray this with me to help you be reconciled in most any situation:

God of compassion, You sent Jesus to proclaim a time of mercy reaching out to those who had no voice, releasing those trapped by their own shame, and welcoming those scorned by society. Make us ambassadors of reconciliation as you say in 2 Corinthians. Open our ears that we may listen to others with respect and understanding. Touch our lips that we may speak your words of peace and forgiveness. Warm our hearts that we may bring wholeness to the broken-hearted and dissolve the barriers of division. Guide the work of your Church and renew us with the Spirit of your love. Help us and all people shape a world where all will have a place, where the flames of hatred are quenched, and where all can grow together as one. Forgive, restore and strengthen us through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

God loves us, so much so that He sent His son to die for our sins so that we all could be reconciled to us in a perfect love relationship that He covets after sin has separated us. Jesus too wants this relationship. All we need to do is believe that Jesus died for us like that on the cross to pay for our sins, confess Him as Lord of our lives and believe God raise Him from the dead, and that we will then be saved and have eternal life. Also He welcomes back all who have backslid. I am now including a prayer which you can pray with me to welcome Jesus in your heart and to reconcile yourself to him. Please pray this with me:

Dear God in heaven, I come to you in the name of Jesus. I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I believe that your only begotten Son Jesus Christ shed His precious blood on the cross at Calvary and died for my sins, and I am now willing to turn from my sin. You said in Your Holy Word, Romans 10:9 that if we confess Jesus as our Lord and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we will be saved. Right now I confess Jesus as the Lord of my soul. With my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. This very moment I accept Jesus Christ as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now I am saved. Thank you Jesus for your unlimited grace which has saved me from my sins. I thank you Jesus that your grace never leads to license, but rather it always leads to repentance. Therefore Lord Jesus transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. Thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me eternal life.

Amen.

God bless you and yours