January 12
GENESIS 32:1-35:27
The Bible is filled with characters who are good and bad, lovers and haters, pursuing peace and violence and often all of those in one person. Jacob is this type of character. We see his anxiety in Genesis 32 as he approaches his family reunion. He is uncertain of Esau's response, so he prays. His response to "fear and distress" is to turn to God. This example of Jacob becomes a command in the New Testament when we are told to respond to our anxieties with prayers and petitions. In situations that we can't change (which is nearly every situation!) we should turn to God rather than allowing our emotions to cloud our hearts and overwhelm our minds. Jacob's prayer recounts the promises of God and requests God's intervention. Immediately after this prayer, Jacob’s wrestling match with God functions as a physical equivalent of his prayer. He asks for this divine "man" to bless him in much the same way as he had previously asked in his prayer. Whether an emotional, physical, or spiritual struggle we should turn to God in prayer as the one who can calm our hearts and our world.
Father God, help me to be quick to turn to you in prayer. Help me to cry out to you in desperation rather than foolishly continuing to trust in myself. Thank you that you hear my prayers and always respond. Thank you for your faithfulness to me. Amen.
Question: What keeps you from quickly turning to God in prayer?
The Bible is filled with characters who are good and bad, lovers and haters, pursuing peace and violence and often all of those in one person. Jacob is this type of character. We see his anxiety in Genesis 32 as he approaches his family reunion. He is uncertain of Esau's response, so he prays. His response to "fear and distress" is to turn to God. This example of Jacob becomes a command in the New Testament when we are told to respond to our anxieties with prayers and petitions. In situations that we can't change (which is nearly every situation!) we should turn to God rather than allowing our emotions to cloud our hearts and overwhelm our minds. Jacob's prayer recounts the promises of God and requests God's intervention. Immediately after this prayer, Jacob’s wrestling match with God functions as a physical equivalent of his prayer. He asks for this divine "man" to bless him in much the same way as he had previously asked in his prayer. Whether an emotional, physical, or spiritual struggle we should turn to God in prayer as the one who can calm our hearts and our world.
Father God, help me to be quick to turn to you in prayer. Help me to cry out to you in desperation rather than foolishly continuing to trust in myself. Thank you that you hear my prayers and always respond. Thank you for your faithfulness to me. Amen.
Question: What keeps you from quickly turning to God in prayer?
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