Devotion Corner

Genesis 32:9 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.

Praying does not come naturally to any of us, hence why the disciples of Jesus had to ask Him to teach them how to pray. Many times, God draws out good and effective prayer from our hearts through times of worry and concern. 

Jacob was in such a time, as he was about to see his brother Esau for the first time in decades. The last time Jacob had seen his brother, was just before he was to pose as him and take his brother’s blessing from their father Isaac. 

So, Jacob was filled with fear as to how his brother, an imposing hunter, would respond after so many years of likely deep anger and resentment building towards him. 

So, Jacob in his troubled hour, shows us the effective way of prayer. Having done all he could do to use his resources and opportunities to follow God’s will, he now asks God simply that He will fulfil His Word. That Word being the great promise first made unto his grandfather Abraham. That from him would come a great nation; that they would dwell in a land gifted unto them by God; and that all the world would be blessed through this people in the delivering of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Prayer is effectual when it is in line with the will of God. Many times, we may be afraid to follow God’s will, as it will sometimes place us in a difficult or even dangerous situation. Jacob’s situation in Genesis 32 reflects this well. Yet when we follow God’s will and ask Him that His will be done, He will always bless that prayer. Such a prayer is a delight to God, as it sings to Him that even in the face of the deepest hardship, we are truly trusting Him.