Answered Prayers
Friday, May 15
Answered Prayers
Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children. Genesis 32:11
In the book of Genesis we read of a challenging event. Jacob faced a very worrying situation. He had fallen out with his brother Esau, and feared that Esau might be out to get him. He was in ‘great fear and distress’ (32:7).
In spite of all his sin, Jacob was also a man of prayer – he knew God. He recognized his own unworthiness: ‘I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant’ (v.10). And so in this moment Jacob prayed, believed and claimed the promise of God: ‘Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau – you have said, “I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea which cannot be counted”’ (vs.11–12). His prayer was answered – more than he could have even imagined.
Prayer is not always straightforward. Sometimes it seems, like Jacob, that we have to wrestle with God. The question is, are you willing to fight? Are you willing to spend time talking (wrestling with God) through prayer and make your petition heard? It can be costly in terms of time and energy. This requires determination.
Jacob wrestled with God, was injured and won the victory. After the victory had been achieved in prayer, everything seemed to fall into place. There was a wonderful reunion and reconciliation: ‘Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept’ (verse.4).
In the end, may you like Jacob said to God, ‘I will not let you go unless you bless me’
Prayer for today: Dear Lord, thank you that you are a God who answers prayer. Help us to wrestle in prayer like Jacob. May my mouth speak out of the overflow of my heart. Amen.