Have you ever found yourself in a very difficult or even dangerous situation? Our first impulse is often for self preservation and we certainly see this in today's continuing story of Jacob's return to Canaan. It's strange that often prayer is our last resort when in fact it should be our first strategy! Let's join the journey with Jacob and take a look at how things were going as he reached his destination:
"Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him. When Jacob saw them, he said, "This is the camp of God!" So he named that place Mahanaim.
Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. He instructed them: "This is what you are to say to my lord Esau: 'Your servant Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now. I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, male and female servants. Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes.' "
When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, "We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him." In great fear and distress Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups, and the flocks and herds and camels as well. He thought, "If Esau comes and attacks one group, the group that is left may escape." Then Jacob prayed, "O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, Lord, you who said to me, 'Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,' I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps. Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. But you have said, 'I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.' "
He spent the night there, and from what he had with him he selected a gift for his brother Esau: two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, thirty female camels with their young, forty cows and ten bulls, and twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. He put them in the care of his servants, each herd by itself, and said to his servants, "Go ahead of me, and keep some space between the herds." He instructed the one in the lead: "When my brother Esau meets you and asks, 'Who do you belong to, and where are you going, and who owns all these animals in front of you?' then you are to say, 'They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a gift sent to my lord Esau, and he is coming behind us.' "
He also instructed the second, the third and all the others who followed the herds: "You are to say the same thing to Esau when you meet him. And be sure to say, 'Your servant Jacob is coming behind us.' " For he thought, "I will pacify him with these gifts I am sending on ahead; later, when I see him, perhaps he will receive me." So Jacob's gifts went on ahead of him, but he himself spent the night in the camp."
Genesis 32:1-21 NIV
Heading home was exciting but it meant that Jacob would encounter his brother once more. Even though he had been visited by encouraging angels, Jacob knew he would have to take care when approaching Esau. He probably wondered if Esau had forgiven him. Anxiety must have been high as he sent a delegation ahead to test the waters and perhaps soften the blow but great fear and distress descended on Jacob upon their return, with the report that Esau was not alone but accompanied by 400 men!
It's interesting that even though the delegation did not say whether the men were hostile or not, Jacob immediately feared the worst! We often react in the same way, allowing fear to take hold.
After dividing his men for safety, Jacob turned to God in prayer. I feel sure that Jacob found comfort in remembering that the One he was calling on was the God of His father and grand father. He reminded God that he was in the process of obeying Him by going back to Canaan and he acknowledged His hand of faithfulness and kindness so far.
Notice that Jacob tells God that he is afraid. We should remember to honestly share all our feelings with God too when we pray. He wants us to pour our hearts out to Him!
Jacob asks specifically to be saved from the hand of his brother and we too should be confident as we pray and ask specifically for what we need. I love the way Jacob is able to finish his conversation with God by recalling God's promise to make him prosper. This reassured him while he waited for God to answer his prayer.
The Bible is filled with promises God has made to us. While we wait to see answers to our specific prayers, we can hold onto and declare those promises over our lives just as Jacob did. We also need to take action to do what we can do in the situation, knowing that God is working in unseen places to answer our prayers.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father,
Thank You that because of Jesus' finished work on the Cross, I can call You my Father. You have adopted me into Your family and I am co-heirs with Your Son! Thank You for Your provision and protection in the day that has passed and for Your promise to always be with me.
Thank You for caring about how I am feeling and for comforting me with Your Word. Thank You for hearing my cries for help and always coming to my aid at just the right time. Give me patience as I wait for Your answers and help me, as Jacob did, to wisely take whatever action I can while I'm waiting. Help me to hold onto all of Your wonderful promises and declare them daily,
In Jesus' Name,
Amen.
"For you are the fountain of life, the light by which we see."
Psalms 36:9 NLT
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Light and Life for Today
NonfiksiA daily devotional for your time alone with God. In an increasingly dark world, more than ever, we need to look beyond what we can see, past our present circumstances. In order to see the light and experience life as our Heavenly Father intended, I...
