Genesis Chapter 32: Verses 9-12 (NLT Translation)
Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my grandfather Abraham, and God of my father Isaac – O LORD, you told me, ‘Return to your own land and to your relatives’. And you promised me, ‘I will treat you kindly.’ I am not worthy of all the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown to me, your servant. When I left home and crossed the Jordan River, I owned nothing except a walking stick. Now my household fills two large camps! O LORD, please rescue me from the hand of my brother Esau. I am afraid he is you kindly, and I will multiply your descendants until they become as numerous as the sands along the seashore – too many to count.’”
Jacob had been given a promise by God twenty years previously after he had to flee from the family home to escape vengeance by his brother. Now God had told him to return. At first glance Jacob assumed that Esau still intended to carry out his threat, and he was afraid for his life, and those of his family. So he prayed, reminding God of the promises He had made.
I think he repeated those promises for his own benefit – to remind him of God’s goodness to him over the preceding 20 years, after all God never forgets His promises, but sometimes we do!
God may make a promise too us that might take a while to come to pass. Circumstances may cross our paths which might cause us to fear or doubt, especially if it’s been a while since the promise was originally made. We too then should take those anxieties to God in prayer as Jacob did. God doesn’t mind us quoting the promises back to Him. It shows that we remember them. Sometimes it’s also helpful to use bible verses in our prayers too. Again, its not for God’s benefit, but keeping both promises and verses close to our hearts builds up our faith.
And we need to also be aware that fear can make things appear more difficult than they actually are. We learn later when the two brothers meet again that Esau had changed too and Jacob had nothing to be afraid of. Sometimes the best thing we can do is take our eyes away from what’s going on round about us and focus on God.
Dear God,
Thank You that You always keep Your promises. Help me to remember that Your timing for their fulfilment is always perfect. Help me also to trust in Your word as I read it in the Bible and to bring it to my memory when I am having doubts.
I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.