Day 15

Genesis 31:17–32:12; Matthew 10:24–11:6; Psalm 13:1-6; Proverbs 3:16-18

IN OUR GENESIS reading today, we witnessed an anxious time for Jacob. He, his wives, their children, and the entire household fled Laban, and Laban gathered his men and pursued them. Despite plenty of drama in the following events, the two men eventually formed a tense treaty and parted on good terms.

Once he’d dealt with the concern behind him, Jacob had to immediately turn to the apprehension in front of him: his brother, Esau. Although a couple of decades had passed, the brothers had not parted on good terms. Jacob had shrewdly purchased Esau’s birthright and stolen his father’s blessing. The relationship between them, as it had been left, was unhealthy, to say the least.

Jacob sent messengers ahead of the caravan to try to get clarity on what he was about to run into. When the messengers returned, the news was not good. Esau was on his way to meet them with four hundred of his men.

We’ve all encountered situations like this —when we’ve been overwhelmed by anxiety, stumbling over a new problem as soon as we’ve solved an existing one. Our reading in Psalms shows us that King David felt this way as well: “O LORD, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long will you look the other way?” (Psalm 13:1).

The times that test our faith have purpose: They are a barometer for our souls. Who do we really believe in? In whom are we actually placing our trust? We must imitate the posture and prayer of Jacob as he faced the prospect of losing everything:

“O LORD, you told me, ‘Return to your own land and to your relatives.’ And you promised me, ‘I will treat you kindly.’ I am not worthy of all the unfailing love and faithfulness you have shown to me, your servant. . . . O LORD, please rescue me from the hand of my brother, Esau. . . . But you promised me, ‘I will surely treat you kindly, and I will multiply your descendants until they become as numerous as the sands along the seashore —too many to count.’”

WORSHIP:

I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the LORD because he is good to me.