Pyeong Hwa Gyeong (138) Book 8. The Reunification of Korea and World Peace CHAPTER 7. True Peace in Our Time, the Reunification of Korea, and East-West Cooperation
4. The two worlds of democracy and communism must reconcile as bothers as did Jacob and Esau
The Bible tells the story of two brothers, Jacob and Esau. Though they were both destined to play an important part in the providence of God, there was a great conflict between them. Jacob was blessed by his father, yet only because Jacob tricked him.
When Esau learned of this, he wanted to kill Jacob, and Jacob had to flee. It was only after they had lived separately for more than twenty years that Jacob returned with gifts and with love in his heart for Esau. When the two brothers met after this long period of separation, Jacob approached Esau and said: “to see your face is like seeing the face of God.” (Gen. 33:10) They forgave each other and embraced in tears. Esau no longer wanted to kill Jacob, but to live with him, share with him and learn from him.
Today the free world stands in the position of Jacob. The communist world stands in the position of Esau. Many communist nations, such as Cuba and North Korea, have been taught that, like Jacob, the free world has stolen the blessing from them. Like Esau, in the past they wanted to destroy the nations of the free world. Like Jacob, for many years, the free world has wisely stayed militarily strong and avoided falling into a position where the communist world could destroy it.
However, I believe that now the time has come for the free world to reconcile with the communist world. When we see our brothers and sisters who have been suffering for many years under the communist system, we must see in them the face of God. We must support them, comfort them, fill them with confidence, and allow them to enter the world community of democratic nations.
Ladies and gentlemen, I hope your deliberations during the next two days will be productive and rewarding. I am certain that because of such efforts as these, Korea will transform into one unified nation well before the end of this decade. On behalf of the sixty million Korean people of both the North and South, I want to express my gratitude for your having come here. I pray that your efforts will be fruitful. God bless you. Thank you very much.
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