Title: The Lord Commanded Me Before...
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Genesis 32:1-12 Early Morning Prayer Meditation
Today's text is the first scene in which Jacob, returning to Canaan, prepares to meet his brother Esau. He ends the affair with his uncle Laban, which has been geographically long, and begins to return to the land God has called for him to go. However, Jacob's footsteps back to his parents' hometown are as heavy as ten thousand pounds, even though he leads countless sheep, cattle, camels, and grandchildren. No matter how wealthy or accomplished, when a family meets, nothing is more important than relationships.
Nevertheless, it is important that Jacob is moving to Canaan. Of course, this was not a decision Jacob had made of his own will. Just like 20 years ago, when he left his hometown because he was afraid of his brother's revenge, this time he was forced to leave because of the deception and exploitation of his uncle Laban. The only thing different from 20 years ago is that if Rebekah, the mother, was the one who planned Jacob's escape 20 years ago, this time, Jehovah directly showed the direction of his journey. In Genesis 31:3, “Return to the land of your fathers, to your people, and I will be with you” was God's leading promise, and Jacob, who obeyed this promise, as we see in verses 1-2 in today's text, God's messengers In other words, meeting the “army of God” is the concrete fulfillment of that covenant. Even if it seems like this is inevitable, it is important who holds the direction of the actual initiative. Even if the actual situation is very poor, who is listening to at that time reveals the level of faith.
But in the next verse a dramatic turn occurs. In verse 9, "Jacob said again, "O LORD, the God of my grandfather Abraham and the God of my father Isaac!" Then, saying, “The Lord commanded me before,” he prays to remind God of the covenant that God personally manifested and gave to him, who dared to give him the promise. In other words, “God, you made this promise clear before! So, even if it doesn't damage your honor, please do it!” was a bold prayer. First, in verse 9, Jacob reveals that the reason for returning now is because of God's promise and command to be gracious to him, and in verse 12 he makes a covenant, "I will be gracious to you, and your offspring will be as numerous as the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted." Reminds me. Why was Jacob so wonderfully remembering God's covenant so well and telling God about it again? The reason is simple. It was because he was afraid of his brother Esau and that he would harm not only himself but also the wives and lovely children he had gained through all kinds of hardships for 20 years.
Fear reached its peak, but Jacob shows a different face than before. Although the person has not yet matured enough to accept fear in a calm way, in the temptation of lies and deceit, calling to God, remembering His covenant, holding onto the covenant with a straw-like heart, and harassing God. is. How do you feel about Jacob's request? Aren't you still too egocentric? Are you still persistently trying to make God fulfill your demands? Shouldn't we be approaching God more modestly and modestly? Some of you may think so. However, I honestly confess that this kind of supplication is the reality of faith we face, and find hope in Jacob's change of prayer, holding on to God's promise and praying, even if he seems a bit shallow and ignorant at the crossroads of life and death.
A wise man can pray, “The Lord hath commanded.” We all have things we want to do, things we want to have, things we want to avoid, but there are not many people who can first confess at that moment, “Before the Lord commanded.” We must hold on to God's covenant, or only that covenant, and pray. This section reminds us of what Caleb prayed to Joshua when he entered Canaan. “Give me this mountain, of which the LORD spoke on that day. You also heard of that day, that there are Anakites there, and their cities are great and fortified, but if the LORD is with me, I will inevitably drive them out, just as the LORD has spoken. The core of what was said was in the covenant “which the Lord spoke in that day,” and the core that Jacob relied on today was also the commandment and covenant “the Lord commanded me before.” I hope this morning will again be a time to remember the words and covenants the Lord gave you in the past, and to ask God based on those covenants.