The Face of God

Jacob and Esau were twin brothers who were estranged. Jacob had stolen Esau's birthright and Esau vowed to kill him, so Jacob left home. Jacob was younger than Esau, and by law should have received the blessing from Abraham. And what a blessing it was:

"From the dew of heaven and the richness of the earth, may God always give you abundant harvests of grain and bountiful new wine. May many nations become your servants, and may they bow down to you. May you be the master over your brothers, and may your mother’s sons bow down to you. All who curse you will be cursed, and all who bless you will be blessed.” Genesis 27:28-29

Esau was very angry that he did not receive this blessing; instead Abraham blessed him with:

You will live away from the richness of the earth, and away from the dew of the heaven above. You will live by your sword, and you will serve your brother. But when you decide to break free, you will shake his yoke from your neck.” Genesis 27:39-40

It was almost as if Esau got the leftovers.

Over the course of time, Jacob ends up at Laban's house (his uncle) and marries Leah and Rachel. He has twelve sons and one daughter and everything he touches seems to prosper. Jacob had become quite prosperous. Eventually it was time for Jacob to leave his father in law's house and in doing so he knew he would see Esau again. Unbeknownst to Jacob, Esau had done well for himself also.

When Jacob and Esau first met, initially Jacob was tentative, but when Esau smiled and welcomed him, ah, it was like the face of God.

Source

I'm sure a huge load was lifted off of Jacob's shoulders when he saw that smile, for to see the face of God means: peace, love, joy, forgiveness, acceptance, compassion - all good things that warm the heart, that excite, that bring abundant joy and to put it in much simpler terms - puts a perpetual smile on one's face.
Esau was wronged, but he chose to forgive; in doing so he displayed the face of God. As his father's blessing said, "when you decide to break free, you will shake his yoke from your neck."

But Jacob insisted, “No, if I have found favor with you, please accept this gift from me. And what a relief to see your friendly smile. It is like seeing the face of God! Genesis 33:10 NLT

Are you the face of God to others? Have you seen the face of God in others?