Answered Prayer

Answered Prayer

You don’t have to know the answer

in order for God to answer!

 

Jacob is full of fear and distress

when he prays in chapter 32:7-12.

When Esau meets Jacob

with his 400 men,

Jacob tries to find favor

by giving his brother gifts.

Esau refuses,

stating he has been blessed

and has plenty.

But Jacob insisted and says, 

“For what a relief it is

to see your friendly smile.

It is like seeing the smile of God!

v.10 NLT

How true were those words.

If we remember,

Jacob left home

because his brother Esau

was plotting to kill him.

Did God answer Jacob’s prayer

by changing Esau’s heart

as he gathered the 400 men?

Or, was it a wasted prayer

because Jacob was not in any danger

from his brother?

Or, could it be that God had

answered that prayer

years before Jacob prayed?

Jacob knew that someday God

was going to send him back home.

He knew he either had to go home

after his brother had died;

Or, a change

would have to take place

in Esau’s heart.

Maybe Esau prayed for his brother for years

and God answered that prayer

the first time he prayed.

Sometimes we wonder if God

got our message.

 But Jesus says,

 “Do not be like them,

 for your Father knows what you need

before you ask him.”

Matthew 6: 8 NIV

It is nice to know that God knows

when we don’t know!

Scripture Reading

Genesis 33:1-34:1 NLT

Then, in the distance, Jacob saw Esau coming with his four hundred men.

2 Jacob now arranged his family into a column,

with his two concubines and their children at the front,

Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph last.

3 Then Jacob went on ahead.

As he approached his brother, he bowed low seven times before him.

4 Then Esau ran to meet him and embraced him affectionately and kissed him.

Both of them were in tears.

5 Then Esau looked at the women and children and asked,

"Who are these people with you?"

"These are the children God has graciously given to me," Jacob replied.

6 Then the concubines came forward with their children and bowed low before him.

7 Next Leah came with her children, and they bowed down.

Finally, Rachel and Joseph came and made their bows.

8 "And what were all the flocks and herds I met as I came?" Esau asked.

Jacob replied, "They are gifts, my lord, to ensure your goodwill."

9 "Brother, I have plenty," Esau answered. "Keep what you have."

10 "No, please accept them," Jacob said,

"for what a relief it is to see your friendly smile.

It is like seeing the smile of God!

11 Please take my gifts, for God has been very generous to me.

I have more than enough." Jacob continued to insist, so Esau finally accepted them.

12 "Well, let's be going," Esau said. "I will stay with you and lead the way."

13 But Jacob replied, "You can see, my lord, that some of the children are very young, and the flocks and herds have their young, too.

If they are driven too hard, they may die.

14 So go on ahead of us. We will follow at our own pace and meet you at Seir."

15 "Well," Esau said, "at least let me leave some of my men to guide and protect you."

"There is no reason for you to be so kind to me," Jacob insisted.

16 So Esau started back to Seir that same day.

17 Meanwhile, Jacob and his household traveled on to Succoth.

There he built himself a house and made shelters for his flocks and herds.

That is why the place was named Succoth.  

18 Then they arrived safely at Shechem, in Canaan,

and they set up camp just outside the town.

19 Jacob bought the land he camped on from the family of Hamor, Shechem's father,

for a hundred pieces of silver.  

20 And there he built an altar and called it El-Elohe-Israel.