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GENESIS 32:9-12

"THE MERCIES OF GOD"

Intro: Jacob returning home after 20 years. He had fled from home 20 years earlier because
       his brother was planning to kill him. We now see him at Jordan, the border of his
       land praying.

I. HIS MOTIVE FOR PRAYER.
        A. A last resort.
                1. His servants just brought disturbing news. Esau on his way to meet him
                   with 400 men.
                2. He had just had a bad scene with his father-in-law.
                        a. They had made a mark that neither were to pass over.
                        b. They had departed under strained condition, restraining
                           conditions, Laban wanted to wring his neck, but God spoke to him
                           in a dream.
                3. It would seem that his conniving past was suddenly catching up with him.
                4. He had no place else to turn.
                        a. Esau before him, Laban behind him.
                5. A rather poor motive for prayer.
        B. Fear for his life.
                1. Fear well justified.
                2. Feared also for his wives and children.
                3. Fear is also a poor motive for prayer.
                4. Unfortunately some only pray when there is nothing else left.
                5. I sometimes wonder if God doesn't get a little anxious to hear from them
                   and thus allows the calamity to fall.

II. THE BASIS FOR HIS PRAYER.
        A. The Word of God.
                1. At the beginning and the end of his prayer Jacob reminds God of His Word.
                2. I find this a real boost to my faith when I pray, to quote the promise
                   of God.
                        a. Lord you said "If two agree..." "If we ask in Thy name..." "If
                           we ask according to Your will." 
        3. The mercies of God.
                1. Not coming because he had been so good. He was a crook, and he knew it.
                2. Some refuse to pray because they are not worthy, of course they are not.
                        a. If only worthy people prayed, nobody would.
                3. God's mercies were evident.
                        a. 20 years earlier when he was at this same place all he had was a
                           staff.
                        b. Now God has so blessed him, he has divided his possessions into
                           two companies.
                4. "I am not worthy the least of all the mercies."

III. THE PRAYER "DELIVER ME FROM THE HAND OF MY BROTHER ESAU."
        A. The rest was honest confession and quoting God's Word.
        B. He had no place else to turn, he was filled with fear. He did not deserve to be
           heard yet... because he came on the basis of God's Word and the mercy of God.
                We read in the next chapter:
                "And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and
                 kissed him and they wept." I do not believe that Esau was planning this
                 kind of a reception, I believe he had a peculiar change of heart the night
                 before, in answer to prayer.
        1. Attempt to penetrate into future.
        2. Attempt to create order.
                Astrology in Scripture:    Isaiah 4?:13-15