Genesis 32:9-12 – Prayer

Jacob has been told by God to return to Canaan. But now his brother Esau is coming towards him with a small army. Jacob must have wondered if God has brought him out of Laban’s house safely to have him be killed by his brother. In this time of trouble, he doesn’t look to himself and his solutions, but he does the only thing anyone really can do in trouble – pray. Times of fear should be times of prayer.

Jacob prays that God will deliver him from Esau. This is an impossible thing, but God often makes the impossible possible. When we pray, we can pray for our specific difficulties – we are free to speak to our God. Jacob does not call God his own God, but humbly calls him the God of his fathers. He doesn’t want to presume, but he knows God works in families – caring for all in the covenant family as they are faithful to Him. He reminds God that he is just obeying what God has said. Obedience can sometimes lead us into trouble, but we must trust God with our safety. Jacob knows he is not worthy to receive any help from God. Do we realise how unworthy we are for any notice by God? But Jacob knows as well how merciful God is, and so he has hope in praying to God. God has greatly blessed Jacob, and Jacob is quick to thank God, but now he desperately prays for deliverance from Esau. He falls back on the promises of God made to him – promises of help, protection, prosperity, an inheritance, and a special relationship with God. The best we can say to God in prayer is what He has said to us. God’s promises, read in His Word, should guide our prayers and give us hope, as they did for Jacob.