GENESIS 32
9 And 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 kindred, that I may do you good,’ 10 I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. 11 Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. 12 But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”
– Genesis 32:9-12
GENESIS 32 JACOB’S HUMBLE PRAYER FOR DELIVERANCE
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
When Jacob was confronted with the fear of Esau
He bowed down in humility and prayed to the Lord
He recognized God’s steadfast love and faithfulness
And acknowledged his undeserving heart for his grace
He pleaded God to deliver him from his brother’s wrath
He also prayed for the sake of all the women and children.
When we are faced with fear and danger, we can pray the most ardent prayers. When Jacob was confronted with such fear for his life and the lives of his family and the two camps he came with, he was pleading to God for deliverance and protection. We witness here the transformed heart that God granted Jacob after twenty years since he left his homeland to flee from his brother’s wrath and to find a wife from his mother’s kin. He wasn’t just afraid for his life now but also for the lives of those who came with him and his entire clan.
What is interesting here is that Jacob recalled he only had a staff when he crossed the Jordan and now, he has two camps coming back home. He acknowledged how God has multiplied him in offspring and wealth. He not only became humble, he also learned to be thankful and totally dependent on the Lord.
REFLECTION
- Why is humility and dependence on God very important when we pray?
