“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:
10 I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands.
11 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.
12 And Thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.” (Genesis 32:9-12)
Here in chapter 32 of Genesis, we see that Jacob is expecting, even planning for, the worst case scenario. And, really . . . who among us are any different? However, to his credit he prays with great faith and humility to the God of his fathers, Abraham and Isaac. In Jacobs praying he reminds God and himself that he is in this situation of the moment because God commanded that he return home after 20 years away. God also promised that if he was obedient in going home, He would do good for Jacob.
In his prayer, Jacob admits that God has shown His love and faithfulness far beyond anything he deserves, and he also confesses his fear of his brother, Esau, and requested God’s favor with him. He closes with a loving reminder to God of His promise to make a great nation from Jacob.
Jacob had learned to pray effectively by basing his desperate and expectant prayers on God’s own Word of promise. He knew this anguish he confronted in life could only be won on his knees through prayer.
Regardless of Jacob’s many failings, weaknesses and consequent sorrows, he discovered that he was loved by God. And through the later verses which record his wrestling with God, Jacob provides us with a model of the effort required for effectual, fervent prayer. Beloved, God loves you too. What is it in your life right now that you cannot face on your own? Humbly fight all your battles on your knees before the Throne of God and you will win! Pray On!
