“We came to your brother to Eisav” (Bereishis 32:7)
When Yaakov’s messengers returned to him they said: “We came to your brother to Eisav. You said ‘He is my brother ’ but his attitude is still that of the wicked Eisav — entrenched in his hatred.” Afterward the Torah says “Yaakov lifted his eyes and behold Eisav was coming and with him were 400 men.”
What did Yaakov do when he saw that danger was approaching? “He bowed to the ground seven times until he approached his brother.” Yaakov bowed and subjugated his thoughts to find merits for Eisav “until his brother”— i.e. until he became literally like his brother. Yaakov’s thoughts in his brother’s favor awakened the spirit of brotherhood within Eisav and the results were not long in coming: “Eisav ran towards him and embraced him.”
Rashi quotes the midrash: “Eisav’s compassion was aroused at that moment and he kissed him wholeheartedly.” (From the book HaIsh al HaChomah a biography of Rav Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld by his great-grandson Rav Shlomo Zalman Sonnenfeld)
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