Genesis 32: 24-31

Jacob certainly couldn’t go back to his uncle or run to his brother, but to the contrary he was running away from both of them. His greatest fear was facing his brother whom he had cheated out of his birthright and whom he felt would now take vengeance on him. It is strange how our past has a way of catching up with us. It remains true that we may run but we cannot hide. When wrong is done and you think you got away with it, you didn’t. Jacob soon found out that he didn’t.

Here in our passage of reflection, Jacob sought reconciliation with his brother Esau. What stands out for us most conspicuously is Jacob’s dependence on prayer to the prayer-answering God of the Ages. He prays (32:9-12) and then he prays again – (32:24-27). Apart from employing his own methods to attempt to appease his brother for the wrong he had committed against him so many years previously, Jacob desperately sees the need to now petition for divine help.

Prayer is the answer. It is the major step to bring about reconciliation with our loved ones. Whatever the problem, prayer is the first answer to solving that problem. It is the first thing we should do. Whatever the problem in our local churches, our immediate families, our communities, or on the national scene politically, may the God of glory remind us that prayer is the first answer to solving every dilemma. It is the first thing that we as the house of prayer should do. Like wandering Jacob – take it to the Lord in prayer! He recognized that it was only God who could turn Esau’s heart and radically turn things around for him. So many times, we try everything else but prayer.

When Jacob explored every other avenue after his initial prayer, the text then informs us “And he took them and sent them over the brook and sent over that he had. And Jacob was left alone, and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day” (v32:23,24). Reconciliation seemed impossible. There seemed to be no way out. However, instead of giving up or giving in Jacob took it up a notch. Unable to sleep, the Word tells us “And he rose up that night . . .” (v22) sent his family over and went into the most agonizing, intense session of travailing, earnest, prevailing prayer. It speaks volumes to us – “And Jacob was left alone . . .” (v24). When you can’t sleep – pray! He disengaged and detached from every imaginable object or item of distraction. He unplugged.

In the Church of God, we are certainly acquainted with “concert” prayer – everybody praying together at the same time. That’s good, but we can never minimize or downplay, the urgent necessity of wrestling with God alone! When the crisis strikes, the saints strike back in prayer! Prayer is the very first thing we should do. We pray and pray again! To really pray, we must get alone with God!

We cannot pray effectively with all the distractions around us – with the cell phone constantly ringing, the television blaring, our minds racing and unsettled. It is a fact people and duties distract us. It’s time to get alone so that we can concentrate fully on Him and the needs at hand. It’s time to unplug – “And Jacob was left alone. . .”