February 20, 2019

Risk! Plan or Pray?

Genesis 32

Carla Moss
Wednesday's Devo

February 20, 2019

Wednesday's Devo

February 20, 2019

Central Truth

Don't rely on previous experience in deciding how to pray and act. Only God will decide the best action for us and can change anyone's heart at any time.

Key Verse | Genesis 32:7-8, 11

Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps, thinking, "If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the camp that is left will escape."
. . .
"Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children." 

Genesis 32

Jacob Fears Esau

Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him. And when Jacob saw them he said, “This is God's camp!” So he called the name of that place Mahanaim. 1 32:2 Mahanaim means two camps

And Jacob sent 2 32:3 Or had sent messengers before him to Esau his brother in the land of Seir, the country of Edom, instructing them, “Thus you shall say to my lord Esau: Thus says your servant Jacob, ‘I have sojourned with Laban and stayed until now. I have oxen, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, in order that I may find favor in your sight.’”

And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, “We came to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and there are four hundred men with him.” Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps, thinking, “If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, then the camp that is left will escape.”

And Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O LORD who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ 10 I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. 11 Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, for I fear him, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. 12 But you said, ‘I will surely do you good, and make your offspring as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”

13 So he stayed there that night, and from what he had with him he took a present for his brother Esau, 14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams, 15 thirty milking camels and their calves, forty cows and ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten male donkeys. 16 These he handed over to his servants, every drove by itself, and said to his servants, “Pass on ahead of me and put a space between drove and drove.” 17 He instructed the first, “When Esau my brother meets you and asks you, ‘To whom do you belong? Where are you going? And whose are these ahead of you?’ 18 then you shall say, ‘They belong to your servant Jacob. They are a present sent to my lord Esau. And moreover, he is behind us.’” 19 He likewise instructed the second and the third and all who followed the droves, “You shall say the same thing to Esau when you find him, 20 and you shall say, ‘Moreover, your servant Jacob is behind us.’” For he thought, “I may appease him 3 32:20 Hebrew appease his face with the present that goes ahead of me, and afterward I shall see his face. Perhaps he will accept me.” 4 32:20 Hebrew he will lift my face 21 So the present passed on ahead of him, and he himself stayed that night in the camp.

Jacob Wrestles with God

22 The same night he arose and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, 5 32:22 Or sons and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and everything else that he had. 24 And Jacob was left alone. And a man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he touched his hip socket, and Jacob's hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, “Let me go, for the day has broken.” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 And he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then he said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, 6 32:28 Israel means He strives with God, or God strives for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed.” 29 Then Jacob asked him, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, 7 32:30 Peniel means the face of God saying, “For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life has been delivered.” 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket, because he touched the socket of Jacob's hip on the sinew of the thigh.

Footnotes

[1] 32:2 Mahanaim means two camps
[2] 32:3 Or had sent
[3] 32:20 Hebrew appease his face
[4] 32:20 Hebrew he will lift my face
[5] 32:22 Or sons
[6] 32:28 Israel means He strives with God, or God strives
[7] 32:30 Peniel means the face of God

Dive Deeper | Genesis 32

My younger brother and I used to spend hours playing the game Risk on our front porch. We knew each other so well that we could usually predict each other's next move, and at the end of the night we would count every piece on every country to ensure that all was fair in love and war.

Jacob knew his brother Esau like the back of his hand, too. Having stolen Esau's birthright and blessing, Jacob knew that Esau would be bent on revenge at their next meeting. Jacob assumed Esau would attack, and he prepared accordingly. 

But then Jacob prayed. In a striking turn of humility, gratitude, and dependence for a man who had traditionally relied on his own cunning and will, Jacob honestly poured his heart out to God and sought His help. Jacob acknowledged that he feared his brother and earnestly asked God to deliver him.

So often my first instinct when faced with a challenging situation is to move immediately into planning and action mode, presuming that God is indifferent or incapable in how He responds. Like Jacob, I've felt rewarded for my "bias for action" in the workplace and at home. But by skipping the step of praying first, I fail to invite God to work in unexpected ways for my good (Romans 8:28) and His glory (Philippians 4:20). Most importantly, it also prevents me from aligning my heart with His (1 John 5:14-15). 

God changed Esau's heart to the point that he forgave and embraced Jacob, and massive conflict was averted. But God also had begun changing Jacob's heart, as we will see in the chapters ahead. Similarly, God will do a great work in us if we seek Him first (Matthew 6:33). 

Your move.

Discussion Questions

1. What is the one thing you doubt God can change about you or someone you love? Are you willing to pray bigger?

2. What are the things in your life that you tend to act on before praying? Why?

3. What prayers has God answered in creative ways over the last year? Write them down and celebrate His power and goodness.

4. What is your next move today? Reconsider the possible outcomes and pray BIG!