I’m digging deep into the back half of Genesis for the first few months of this year, and I’ve just come across the occasion when Jacob went to God in prayer over the situation regarding Esau. If you’ll recall, Jacob conned Esau out of their father’s blessings, after which he fled to Haran to avoid his brother’s wrath. Years later, Jacob has returned to the Promised Land, and knows that the issue with Esau has not been resolved. So, Jacob sent his brother a letter, seeking for peace. Soon after, he received word that Esau was coming to meet him with hundreds of men following behind. It looks like he’s bringing an army to Jacob, ready to fulfil his vow to kill him for all the wrong he did to him.

Thus, Jacob prays to God. As I read the prayer, and what Jacob did afterward, I was struck by some observations…

And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:

(Genesis 32:9)

Jacob is afraid. Jacob is distressed. Jacob has very good reason to believe he’s about to die, and that many of the people in his care will die along with him. What would you do? Jacob’s first reaction is to pray. This is not the same man who left Canaan so many years ago. That man took the blessings of God for granted. This man begs for them.

In his prayer, he reminds God that he was called to return to Canaan and that the Lord would “deal well” with him if he did. Well, here he is, and already he’s got someone seemingly ready to gut him like a fish. Did God mean what He said about protecting Jacob? You bet He did. Is Jacob worried, despite that promise? Absolutely. Should he be? No, but he’s human, and our emotions sometimes overwhelm our mind. His prayer is not accusatory: He isn’t telling God “my brother is going to kill me, and that means you broke your promise!” Instead, he’s saying “my brother might be trying to kill me, but I remember that You said You promised to protect me, so I’m bringing that before You now, because I need that protection!” Did God forget His promise? No. Does He NEED Jacob to remind Him? No. Prayer isn’t about that, but it is about laying petitions before God, even though He already knows it all.

I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands. Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.

(Genesis 32:10-11)

To prepare for Esau’s arrival, Jacob divided his clan into two camps, thinking that, if one is attacked, the other can escape and live. Now, looking out at the two camps of his people, Jacob can’t help but reflect on how much God has blessed him. He does not think of it with entitlement, but humility: “I am not worthy,” he says. He left Canaan and crossed over the Jordan River with only a staff in his hand, and now returns with a clan big enough to be divided into two large bands. The Lord has been mindful of him, of this there is no doubt. Will the Lord let the sins of the past, atoned by time (his faithful living since then) and repentance (his letter to Esau was certainly an act of penance), throw away all the blessings He has given His servant? That’s the question at the heart of Jacob’s prayer. The patriarch’s life is in God’s hands. The Lord seems like he has a lot of blessing left to do through Jacob. If so, a happy ending with Esau must happen.

That’s how you pray to God, by the way: Don’t just ask for something; plead your case. Argue the “why.” Why should God bless you? Why should God say “yes” to your request? Tell Him. Plead your case!

After his prayer was done, Jacob prepared a great series of gifts to give to his brother as a peace offering. He sent servants out to meet him with camels, cattle, and goats, one after the other, each with the same message: “These belong to Jacob and he is giving them to you as a gift. He is behind us, on his way to meet you.” Jacob’s hope is that Esau, by the time he receives the last of the gifts, will be so overcome with gratitude that he will embrace his brother with love, rather than draw his sword in hatred.

As it relates to Jacob’s prayer, I think it’s interesting that the man doesn’t just stand around and do nothing. After arranging everything, Jacob sent the servants away with the animals. He has done his praying, but he also looked for what things HE could do. The lesson is this: Just because you pray doesn’t mean you should just fold your arms, sit back, and wait for God to work a miracle. In fact, no miracle will be done in this event, but God will still be praised. The Lord will still have answered Jacob’s prayer. In the meantime, Jacob saw what he could do and set to work, trusting in God to do what Jacob could not. The man can bring the gifts, but only God can soften a heart.

~Matthew