Title: God Answered Jacob's Prayer/Genesis 33
Content 1. Words that begin
Jacob, who deceived his brother and father before God and took away the blessing of the firstborn, was able to return to gold in about 20 years after undergoing all the antenatal care in return. Unfortunately, the sin I committed about 20 years ago began to lift my head in earnest, thinking that I had now become strong and safe as a rain. Because of Jacob's sins, his brother Esau's 20-year resentment was helpless for Jacob, and he had no choice but to wait for the time to be beaten and die.
In terms of his extraordinary head and outstanding skills, the second is a sad Jacob, but he is also a successful Jacob who went through all the antenatal care, but he only felt helpless about the situation that had arisen due to his own sins. Fortunately, Jacob, like a man of prayer, cling to God again this time. However, instead of answering, God broke his hip bone. Still, Jacob persisted in holding on to that God, and he got the answer of blessing.
2. Crisis that continues even after prayer is answered
When Jacob had finished wrestling with prayer with all his heart toward God, he looked up and saw his brother Esau with four hundred men. Although his prayers were answered, Jacob, fearful, puts his two maidservants and their children in front, his wife Leah and their children after them, and his beloved Rachel and his child Joseph at the back, and he went ahead. After all, it was a Jacob-like treatment with an unusual head, but in reality it was useless.
3. Reconciliation through God's work
Worried and fearful, Joseph, on his way to his brother Esau, saw his brother and bowed down to the ground seven times. At the time, this act was a customary tribute to kings. It is a humble attitude that was unimaginable for Jacob, who once believed only in his head and ignored his older brother. Here we read Jacob's changed heart and attitude.
After seeing Jacob's changed appearance after about 20 years, Esau ran and hugged his younger brother Jacob, shifted his neck, and kissed him. And the brothers shed tears of joy together. Our God not only protected his life as Jacob had prayed, but also reconciled between the two brothers.
Guys, what's the problem? Do you have a problem that you can't go through all the antenatal care and have all the human strength and wisdom? Do you have any problems even when you say you pray hard in your own way? All you have to do is pray to the Almighty God of Love. Not having to pray hard on your own is not an opportunity to give up on prayer, but an opportunity to pray as God wants you to. Please believe that our God wants us to continue to pray, even when our bones are broken.
When Esau saw the woman and children behind Jacob, he asked who they were, and Jacob replied that it was a gift from God. Then the maidservants and their children bowed down to Esau, then Leah and her children bowed down, then Rachel and Joseph.
Esau asked again. "What is the cause of all these cattle that I have met?" Jacob answered Esau. "This is a gift I give to my brother in order to receive favor from my Lord." We should note that Jacob refers to Esau, whom he had so neglected in the past, as Lord. Esau said, “My brother, what I have is sufficient; leave what you have to you.” and did not receive it. Jacob answered. "No. If you are certain that you have received favor from your brother, please accept this gift."
It's a really amazing conversation. In the old days, it was not the brothers who quarreled fiercely over the blessing of the firstborn. Now, you can't find the old Jacob or the old Esau until you find them. Please believe that this amazing change, this tremendous grace, is due to the power of God's love who heard Jacob's prayer.
Guys, do you know what Jacob said during this gracious conversation? “I have seen your face, it is as if I have seen the face of God, and you are pleased with me.” God melted the resentment of Esau, which had been hardened for about 20 years, and changed the face of Esau, who was poor in life, into a benevolent face like yours. God also changed Jacob's heart. Jacob, who became a new man, urged Esau to accept the riches he had received from God, and made it happen.
A time of crisis is a time of prayer and a time of experiencing God's wonderful love.
4. Heading to the home of each person's life
After accomplishing the history of great reconciliation, Esau asked Jacob to show the way, so let's go. However, Jacob said that because he had come a long way, the weak children and young cattle might be too tired to drive them for one day, and they might all die. Then, out of love for his brother and his family, Esau offered to leave some of his servants to escort, but Jacob politely declined even the offer.
Why might Jacob have turned down Esau's favored offer? Moreover, it might offend Esau, so what was the reason for refusing to do so?
Please believe that Jacob, who always believed and followed God's guidance and love, who always works ahead of time, intended to trust and follow God only this time. Another reason was that he thought that the faith of God in the family might be polluted by the pagans.
Eventually Esau returned to Seir, and Jacob came to Succoth and built a house and a barn.
Anytime, anywhere, under any circumstance, we believers must believe and follow God's love and power, and we must protect ourselves from being polluted by the world. James 1:27 says, "Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world."
5. Conclusion
As we go through life, there are times when we encounter problems that cannot be solved by human strength. The problem of not mobilizing extraordinary brains, not having experienced all the antenatal care, not having loved ones and children, not being able to use all the means and means to accumulate wealth, and not to mobilize all the powers of the world. There are times when you meet them. Just like the problem of death that cannot be solved even if all the doctors in the world are mobilized, there are problems in life that cannot be solved even if all the people in the world are mobilized. Please believe that the time to face such life problems is not a time to despair, but a time to meet God the Creator, to pray to Him, and to learn that He is clearly alive and working for us.