(Genesis 32:1-23) Now as Jacob went on his way, the angels of God met him. 2 Jacob said when he saw them, “This is God’s camp.” So he named that place Mahanaim.
3 Then Jacob sent messengers before him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4 He also commanded them saying, “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: ‘Thus says your servant Jacob, “I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed until now; 5 I have oxen and donkeys and flocks and male and female servants; and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.”’”
6 The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and furthermore he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.” 7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed; and he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and the herds and the camels, into two companies; 8 for he said, “If Esau comes to the one company and attacks it, then the company which is left will escape.”
9 Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O Lord, who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your relatives, and I will prosper you,’ 10 I am unworthy of all the lovingkindness and of all the faithfulness which You have shown to Your servant; for with my staff only I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two companies. 11 Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, that he will come and attack me and the mothers with the children. 12 For You said, ‘I will surely prosper you and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which is too great to be numbered.’”
13 So he spent the night there. Then he selected from what he had with him a present for his brother Esau: 14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, 15 thirty milking camels and their colts, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. 16 He delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass on before me, and put a space between droves.” 17 He commanded the one in front, saying, “When my brother Esau meets you and asks you, saying, ‘To whom do you belong, and where are you going, and to whom do these animals in front of you belong?’ 18 then you shall say, ‘These belong to your servant Jacob; it is a present sent to my lord Esau. And behold, he also is behind us.’” 19 Then he commanded also the second and the third, and all those who followed the droves, saying, “After this manner you shall speak to Esau when you find him; 20 and you shall say, ‘Behold, your servant Jacob also is behind us.’” For he said, “I will appease him with the present that goes before me. Then afterward I will see his face; perhaps he will accept me.” 21 So the present passed on before him, while he himself spent that night in the camp.
22 Now he arose that same night and took his two wives and his two maids and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream. And he sent across whatever he had.
TODAY'S THOUGHTS AND MEDITATION:
Notice that God gives us examples who are not perfect. While Jacob was afraid of Esau, he confessed this fear to the Lord and asked for His help. Especially when we have done something wrong, we need to try to make things right with anyone who was effected, as best as possible. Now, it seems like Jacob's gifts were over-the-top-extravagant in order to buy Esau's favor, but remember, Jacob stole both his birthright and blessings! If Jacob had only said, "Sorry for stealing from you, brother" and didn't give back, or had just given him a small token, the apology would have rung hollow. Like a slap in the face.
In approaching anyone to apologize, we will struggle not just with pride, but with the fear of rejection or retaliation. No matter how the other person is going to react, it is so very worth it to confess and apologize to the ones who have been hurt, as soon as possible. Your heart will experience peace, and who knows, there's a much better chance to be reconciled than if you do nothing. But at the very least, you have been obedient to what God asks of us.
So when we are struggling, it is more than okay to tell God about it! He already knows that we are struggling, but for our own sake, it helps us to admit and tell Him about it. So with every struggle, confess, and ask for His help. And while Jacob seemed to remind God of His promises, this was also more for Jacob's sake. God never forgets! But we can always use the reminders in order to be encouraged!
It is not about do's and don'ts, it is about having a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ. In striving to get to know Him better, and in allowing Him to work in and through us, we will grow in our faith. As we trust in Him and see how He does work in our lives, we will only learn to trust Him even more! Then as we know and see that God is faithful and keeps His promises, we will be confident in Him.
Whatever God commands us to do, He will be with us! When we fear God, we do not have to fear anyone or anything! And after we ask God for help in a specific thing, we can rest in Him and trust that He will work things out for good. But it is not a one-time-kind-of-thing where we ask God to just take care of our entire life, and then we never have to talk to Him or ask Him anything ever again. Remember it is a relationship. And just like with any close relationship, one loves to stay in touch!
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