His Word Is True: Genesis 32:9-12
Regardless of where we are and what we’ve done, to find peace all we need to do is remember God’s promises. If God declares something true, He is powerful enough to make it true. The world can conspire against God, but His promises remain true. It might look different than we imagine, but His Word is always true.
Having come up with his plan, Jacob turns to the Lord in prayer. It might have been better to start with going to the Lord first and then devising a plan. That order gives God space to ease Jacob’s thoughts, to calm Jacob’s nerves, or even to speak truth into Jacob’s life so his plan becomes more effective. It’s always good to include God in our efforts from the beginning.
It is also true to be better late than never. At least Jacob does come to God. Jacob shows he is open to God’s leading. While he’s already put a plan into motion – illustrating that going to God wasn’t his first move – he does go to God.
Jacob’s prayer begins with a reminder of God’s words. God is the one who told Jacob to return. While this can be read two different ways, one reading is weaker than the other. In one case, it might feel like Jacob is reminding God that He’s in this predicament because God put him here. The other way to read this is that Jacob is reminding himself that he is in this predicament because God put him here.
Either reading could be correct. We don’t know what is going through Jacob’s mind as he prays. We do know God doesn’t need a reminder of His own words. Therefore, the strongest interpretation of this prayer – whether it was true to Jacob’s process or not – is to hear Jacob’s declaration as a reminder to himself. Jacob’s opening reminds Jacob that he is coming before Esau at God’s direction. Jacob reminds himself that he is walking with God.
Next, Jacob reminds himself that he is not worthy. God picked him because he was the grandson of Abraham. Jacob did not ask to be Abraham’s grandson, he was born into the position. That doesn’t make him worthy or deserving. If anything, it makes him lucky. Therefore, Jacob is grateful for God action in his life. Jacob is grateful for how he returns to Canaan compared to what he had when he left.
Finally, Jacob asks for protection. He knows Esau is coming and assumes the worst. Jacob also knows he has women and children and herds around him. He doesn’t have an armed party. He doesn’t have much means of defending himself. He needs God’s help.
In the end, Jacob reminds himself of God’s promise. In the face of potential destruction, Jacob reminds himself of God’s Word. What a beautiful understanding to glean from Jacob’s prayer. Regardless of where we are and what we’ve done, to find peace all we need to do is remember God’s promises.
