January 12
Genesis 32:1-35:27
The Bible is filled with people who are good and bad, lovers and haters, peacemakers and violent. Often all these behaviors are in one person. I mean, is that not true of us? Jacob is this type of character. We have continually been faced with his deception, lies, waywardness, and sin. As he approaches his family reunion and his anxiety builds in Genesis 32, we may expect much of the same behavior. Yet in his uncertainty, 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 cannot 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" (surely a pre-incarnate Christ) to bless him in much the same way as he had previously asked in his prayer. Whether in 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 desperately cry out to you 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.
What keeps you from quickly turning to God in prayer?
The Bible is filled with people who are good and bad, lovers and haters, peacemakers and violent. Often all these behaviors are in one person. I mean, is that not true of us? Jacob is this type of character. We have continually been faced with his deception, lies, waywardness, and sin. As he approaches his family reunion and his anxiety builds in Genesis 32, we may expect much of the same behavior. Yet in his uncertainty, 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 cannot 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" (surely a pre-incarnate Christ) to bless him in much the same way as he had previously asked in his prayer. Whether in 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 desperately cry out to you 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.
What keeps you from quickly turning to God in prayer?
Recent
Archive
2025
2024
June
July
Categories
no categories
No Comments