Honest before God



Prayer: Come, my soul, with ev’ry care, Jesus loves to answer prayer;
      He Himself has bid thee pray, Therefore will not turn away.

Read: Genesis 32:1-12

Think about It: The simplest and most difficult aspect of the Christian faith is prayer. Even the most ardent and disciplined practitioner of prayer will say that they should pray more. Even the smallest child will say that they know how to pray. How can we the creatures ever even consider speaking to the Creator? We do it because He tells us to. It is an act of obedience, comfort, struggle, and survival. 

Our first reading under this topic for the week comes from the story of Jacob (also known later in his life as Israel – as in the Children of Israel.) Jacob is the grandson of Abraham, the receiver of the covenant with God declaring that he would be the father of a great nation. Jacob is the twin brother to Esau, whose descendants become a severe problem for the Children of Israel. Jacob is a mama’s boy and a deceiver. And Jacob had some intensely interesting encounters with God Himself. Today, we examine what would appear to be Jacob’s first truly honest discussion with God. At this point in Jacob’s story, he has two wives and 11 children and is finally returning home after living with his uncle having run from his own home in order to escape the rage of his brother Esau from whom he stole the family birthright. Needless to say, Jacob is a little nervous. How will Esau received him? Will there be a war between the brothers? He fears for the safety of his small children and his wives. So, finally he turns to God in an earnest and heartfelt prayer. 

Jacob gives us a fairly decent model in this brief prayer. Jacob reminds God that this return home was His idea. He reminds himself that God has been incredibly good to him by reviewing all that has  taken place while he lived with his uncle as he now possesses wealth and a large family. He confesses his unworthiness before God and begs God’s protection from the possible consequences of his treacherous behavior toward Esau. Then he reminds God of His promises and asks that God would fulfill those promises to him. This prayer is honest and doesn’t beat around the bush. And it isn’t even particularly long. This prayer speaks of the beginnings of deeper relationship with God which will mark the last segment of Jacob’s life. 

God meets Jacob where he’s at (see verse 1) and listens to his prayer. God does the same for us. He invites us to speak with him and pays attention when we do so. The creatures get to speak to the Creator! Why would we give that habit so little attention?

Prayer: Thou art coming to a King, Large petitions with thee bring;
For His grace and pow’r are such None can ever ask too much.

With my burden I begin: Lord, remove this load of sin;
Let Thy blood, for sinners spilt, Set my conscience free from guilt.
Come My Soul with Every Care – LSB 779

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