Today’s Devotion
Topic: Confronting Your Fears! (Self Assessment)
Background: It is said that without faith it is impossible to please God, and this is true. However, sometimes faith is just so difficult in the face of the many earthly “realities” that threaten our confidence in the Lord.
In moments like that, there are practical steps we can take to revive our faith. These include: fellowship, perfecting the act of WAITING, prayer, obeying God’s word no matter what, remaining humble enough to admit how unworthy we are of His blessings, and reminding ourselves of His goodness to us in times past.
Let’s delve deeper into today’s study and learn more about this subject, using patriarch Jacob as our case study.
Text: Genesis 32: 1 -12
1 Jacob also went on his way, and the angels of God met him. 2 When Jacob saw them, he said, “This is the camp of God!” So he named that place Mahanaim.
3 Jacob sent messengers ahead of him to his brother Esau in the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4 He instructed them: “This is what you are to say to my lord Esau: ‘Your servant Jacob says, I have been staying with Laban and have remained there till now. 5 I have cattle and donkeys, sheep and goats, male and female servants. Now I am sending this message to my lord, that I may find favor in your eyes.”
6 When the messengers returned to Jacob, they said, “We went to your brother Esau, and now he is coming to meet you, and four hundred men are with him.” 7 In great fear and distress Jacob divided the people who were with him into two groups, and the flocks and herds and camels as well. 8 He thought, “If Esau comes and attacks one group, the group that is left may escape.”
9 Then Jacob prayed, “O God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, Lord, you who said to me, ‘Go back to your country and your relatives, and I will make you prosper,’ 10 I am unworthy of all the kindness and faithfulness you have shown your servant. I had only my staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps. 11 Save me, I pray, from the hand of my brother Esau, for I am afraid he will come and attack me, and also the mothers with their children.
12 But you have said, ‘I will surely make you prosper and will make your descendants like the sand of the sea, which cannot be counted.’” Amen
Questions:
i. A careful read of verses 3 to 5, reveals Jacobs uncertainty about how his brother Esau will react after many years of stealing his blessings.
a) What does this tell us about how we handle or treat others, to their disadvantage?
b) Also, why is Jacob so blessed now and yet so insecure? what does this teach about life,. Especially cheating our way up to the top?
c) In verses 1 and 2, Jacob had just encountered angels. Yet he still had to face Esau and he was afraid. Will you agree therefore that the fact that one becomes ‘right’ with God, does not mean he should not go back to those he has offended and plead for mercy and restitution?
- Why was Jacob afraid, according to verse 6, when the messengers brought him the news that his twin brother Esau, was coming out to meet him? (read Gen 27).
- In Jacob’s prayer, he addresses God in reference to His father and grand father. Why did he do so and what can we learn from this especially in a generation that threatens godliness?
- In prayer, Jacob reminds God that this particular journey he’s embarked on is based on God’s command that he returned to his country. He also reminds God of His promise to bless him. Why do you think this is necessary in the face of the fact that HE FEARED ESAU WOULD REVENGE?
- In verse 10, Jacob told the Lord how unworthy he was of all the Lord’s blessings to him. He also said, “I had only a staff when I crossed this Jordan, but now I have become two camps”:
a) Explain this statement Jacob made and demonstrate how helpful this will be in helping him confront his fears.
b) Also, what does this tell us about the faithfulness of God to His promises?
- Why will Jacob still be afraid and feel doubtful about his future even after knowing what God has said? Does this happen to you sometimes? You may share with us a testimony.
- How is today’s study going to help your faith concerning God’s promises concerning your future even if fear knocks on your door?
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