Scary Obedience

Scary Obedience

Genesis 32: ⁹ Then Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you’: ¹⁰ I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, 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, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children. ¹² For You said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’ ”

 

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Being obedient to GOD, Jacob returned to the land of Isaac and Rebekah. He fled from Laban with wealth given to him by GOD. But now he was headed back home where he had to face Esau, the one he originally stole things from. He prayed with anguish.

 

My Observations:

• Jacob feared for his life so his prayer was as sincere as he could make it.
• Jacob hit rock bottom and realized that it was him who caused the problems he was in.
• Jacob realized he was not worthy of receiving GOD’s mercy, so he reminded GOD of HIS promise.

 

GOD had already told Jacob that HE was going to bless him and make him the father of many nations. This would require he and his children to remain alive. But Jacob had been slick all his life and could only see the mess he was in.

 

He reminded GOD of the promise. It’s not like GOD needed a reminder or that GOD needed to be informed of the situation. GOD knew. But this was the first time Jacob was obedient in facing problems he created. He was terrified, but obedient. All he could do was pray and rely on GOD’s protection.

 

Challenge

• Why do you think GOD told Moses this prayer?
• Have you ever decided to follow GOD no matter what the consequences are?
• Is it difficult to leave old ways and to turn to the LORD even if it means facing consequences?