Genesis 32:9-12

2009.Apr.03 17:00

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Read Genesis 32:09-12 | Full Chapter

Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the Lord Who said to me, Return to your country and to your people and I will do you good, I am not worthy of the least of all the mercy and loving-kindness and all the faithfulness which You have shown to Your servant, for with [only] my staff I passed over this Jordan [long ago], and now I have become two companies.
(Genesis 32:09-10, AMP)

Jacob’s growing up, I think. He’s acknowledging Yahweh’s goodness and role in his success. More importantly, Jacob acknowledges that this favor is undeserved. He also recognizes that God has a will for Jacob’s life. And that perhaps is the biggest difference from the Jacob that fled his brother’s wrath twenty-plus years prior. His financial gains are rather nice, but that he can actually spend some time focused on acknowledging Yahweh shows spiritual growth. Not to imply that growth is near complete.

Deliver me, I pray You, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and smite [us all], the mothers with the children.
(Genesis 32:11, AMP)

Indeed, Jacob’s prayer is starting to sound similar to many of the Psalms, with the combination of reverencing God, but also acknowledging the difficulties of a current situation, seeking Yahweh’s delivering hand in them.

Be pleased, O LORD, to deliver me: O LORD, make haste to help me. Let them be ashamed and confounded together that seek after my soul to destroy it; let them be driven backward and put to shame that wish me evil.

(Psalm 40:13-14, KJV)

Like the Psalmist, Jacob understands that he is full of fear and that he alone is not sufficient against the forces (real or imagined) arrayed against him. Jacob is dependent upon Yahweh to survive this day. Yes, he will use his wisdom and/or cunning, and yes, Esau’s willingness to forgive should not be downplayed. But Jacob’s source now is Yahweh and Yahweh alone. Or, at least, it ought to be.

And You said, I will surely do you good and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.
(Genesis 32:12, AMP)

And, now, Jacob refers to the “sand of the sea” descendants promise which plays a continuing role in the Genesis narrative. As had Abraham and Isaac (if I remember correctly), Jacob has received this particular promise from Yahweh, which with Jacob’s children is going to start branching out. Yahweh made this promise during the “Jacob’s Ladder” incident, now some twenty or so years prior. That Jacob references it now, during a time where he’s dealing with fear, shows a level of faith and maturity that was not then evident.

Jacob’s coming of age story is approaching it’s conclusion as he finds his way back home to Palestine.