After being away
for a couple of decades, Jacob heads home with two companies of peoples and a massive
amount of livestock. Clearly, God has blessed him! So why does he pray to be
blessed?
Genesis 32:26 – a
prayer of Jacob
And he (a man of
God or angel)said,
Let me go,
for the day breaketh.
And he (Jacob) said,
I will not let thee go,
except thou bless me.
From the Book of KJV Prayers – actual prayers from God’s Word
collected by Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2019, from the King
James Version of the Bible
Genesis 32:26 – a
prayer of Jacob
Lord, I will
not let
You go
until
You bless me!
From the Book of Bible Prayers – actual prayers of the Bible collected
from a variety of translations and paraphrased by Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2019
Jacob had already
prayed
for deliverance from his brother Esau and sent over 500 animals ahead as a
peace offering. He remained behind with his family and servants, but sometime
during the night, he arose, divided the people into two groups as a safety
precaution, and sent them on ahead. He would have been all alone – except for the
Angel of God with whom he wrestled.
As day began to
break, the Angel insisted Jacob let him go, but Jacob refused until he
received a blessing. Obviously, this was no request for material goods or
riches. Nor did the prayer repeat a desire for God to be with him since the
Lord already was! Jacob had God’s presence, protection, and power, but
a blessing can also mean permission, approval, or anointing.
On that night,
God bestowed every aspect of blessing, including forgiveness, as He changed Jacob’s
name (one who supplants or displaces) to Israel – one who triumphs with God.
Mary Harwell Sayler, ©2020
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