Amazing Grace

      Jacob's life is chuck-full of examples of how patiently the L‑rd cultivates and trains His servants. Sometimes it takes a while for Him to get rid of some large, dead branches. Jacob used deception to outwit his brother, and now he fears the consequences. Esau is coming to meet him with 400 men—his natural conclusion? This is payday—Esau is coming to rub me out because of what I did to him.

      Jacob comes up with a fairly elaborate scheme to cushion the expected blow. He divides his people [family and servants] into 2 camps and separates the 2 camps—if Esau did intend to wipe them out, at least 1/2 of Jacob's people could escape. Then he prays. Sounds familiar? How often are we prone to do the same? When confronted with insurmountable obstacles, we tend to devise schemes of how to get around them and then pray. The old hymn is right on target: "O, what peace we often forfeit, O, what needless pain we bear; All because we do not carry everything to G‑d in prayer."

      Jacob prays for protection from destruction by Esau and his men. He reminds the L‑rd of His covenant promise to make Jacob into the father of a large nation (Genesis 28:13-15). Jacob and Esau meet for the first time as middle-aged men and are reconciled—the L‑rd answered Jacob's prayers for protection and much more (as we are reminded in Ephesians 3:20). It didn't hurt that Jacob sent about 500 head of livestock as a "peace offering" for Esau. Nonetheless, he makes that decision after seeking the L‑rd in prayer. So the L‑rd may have well inspired him to do that.

      One point should not be overlooked here. The L‑rd sustained Jacob through his trials. The L‑rd sent angels to minister to Jacob before the crisis with Esau began (32:1). Then, He Himself takes the shape of a man and confronts Jacob, allowing Jacob to wrestle with Him. Jacob is one of the few people in the pages of the Word that experience this level of intimacy with G‑d. Even after the incredibly sordid episode with Dinah and the sons of Shechem (chapter 34), the L‑rd once again appears to Jacob and provides him needed direction. 

      The point in all this: G‑d is always faithful; "hanging in there," even when we aren't; maintaining His careful watch over those who are in a covenant relationship with Him...