Reading: Genesis 31-33
And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came
to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee,
and four hundred men with him. Then Jacob was greatly
afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was
with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into
two bands; And said, If Esau come to the one company,
and smite it, then the other company which is left shall
escape(Gen. 32:6-8).
For 20 years, Jacob prospered under the guiding hand of
God. But now, as he followed the Lord’s direction to return to
his own lands, he was overcome with fear and dread. Living
with the unfair practices of his uncle/father-in-law had given him
a better understanding of the grievous hurt he had dealt his
brother, and he was concerned that Esau’s anger had grown
even fiercer during the time they had been apart. Therefore,
when his messengers reported, we came to thy brother Esau,
and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men
with him, he feared the worst. Yet even in his fear, Jacob was
no longer the same man who had fled from his father’s house
two decades before. He now knew to whom his life belonged
and to whom he needed to turn. The prayer prayed by Jacob was simple and direct. He
restated the promise that God had made to him, And Jacob
said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father
Isaac, the Lord which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country,
and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee (Gen.
32:9), and entreated of the Lord to protect him and his family.
Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from
the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite
me, and the mother with the children (32:11). Afterwards,
he gave instructions to his herdsmen, settled his family down
for the night, and set himself apart to pray. This second prayer is revealed to us not in words, but in
actions. And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a
man with him until the breaking of the day (Gen.32:24). All
night long, Jacob contended with the angel of God (Hos. 12:4),
coming face to face with his own insignificance while, for the first time, fully realizing his all-encompassing need for God.
When at dawn, the being instructed Jacob to let him go, And
he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh, Jacob realized that
he could NEVER stand to be without the Lord. Therefore, with
renewed faith and determination, Jacob stated, And he said,
I will not let thee go, except thou bless me (Gen. 32:26). At
last, he understood—with God at his side, fear was unnecessary.
The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man
do unto me (Ps. 118:6)? Thus, it was with faith and confidence restored that Jacob
went forth to meet Esau. He walked out calmly, with humble
penitence, allowing his brother to see the man he was now with
God at the fore of his life, leaving behind forever the person he
used to be. And he said, Thy name shall be called no more
Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God
and with men, and hast prevailed (Gen. 32:28). Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature:
old things are passed away; behold, all things are become
new(II Cor. 5:17). Thought For Today:The only reason to fear moving forward
in life is if, in doing so, we attempt to leave God behind. Christ Revealed:As the Angel (Messenger) of God who guides and provides
our necessities (Gen. 31:11-13; Matt. 6:33; John 10:30). Word Studies:31:2 not toward him = not favorable; 31:7 suffered = permitted;
31:15 counted of him =considered by him as; devoured also our
money = spent the money he got for us as dowries; 31:18 of his getting
= which he acquired; 31:19 images = household idols; 31:30 longedst
after = are homesick for Pray For Staff:Jennifer Palafox • Government Official: Rep. Michael
Turner(OH) • Country: New Caledonia (267,840) South Pacific Ocean •
Major Language: French • Religious Freedom • 60% Roman Catholic; 30%
Protestant; 10% Other • Prayer Suggestion: Pray for godly discernment
to know His will (Ezek. 44:23). Optional ReadingMatthew 11