On Sunday, Josh Spare walked us through the pinnacle of Genesis 32: Jacob’s prayer.  Josh explained the differences of Jacob’s prayer and our own prayers when we attempt to plead our case with God.

Jacob was at the height of anxiety because of the anticipation of seeing his angry brother for the first time in 20 years after stealing his birthright.  We step into a story of Jacob taking action to try to reduce the possible conflict he expects.  In the midst of his action steps, he also begs the Lord to act on his behalf.

My own prayer life, in terms of “begging”, has mostly consisted of prayer for my son and healing in his leg.  His right leg is shorter than the left, and the discrepancy is only supposed to increase as he grows because of the slower growth in the right.  He currently wears a leg brace to help straighten the bone and receives intermittent physical therapy to keep the muscles strong.  We go to several appointments in a year to discuss his case and the next steps, and each of these appointments stirs another “begging” session in my heart before the Lord.

We know that Emerson will face multiple surgeries.  Right now is the waiting period.  We are in the anticipation stage where the fear is taking over, always questioning if we have taken enough preventative measures, or seen the right specialists to answer our many questions correctly.  And just like Jacob, I stand in this place of taking action - through going to the appointments, researching doctors, and scheduling his physical therapy - and then pleading with the Lord to heal.  But what is the difference between my prayers and Jacob’s?

Jacob appeals to the promises of God and the character of God.  His prayer recognizes that God made a covenant with his ancestors, and he starts his prayer in claiming that God’s covenant extends to him as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.  Secondly, Jacob declares his obedience to the Lord, laying responsibility on God for calling him to this place.  Thirdly, Jacob admits to his complete unworthiness before the Lord and that, although he has been obedient, it doesn’t mean he has earned the Lord’s mercy.  Finally, in the heart of Jacob’s prayer, he claims protection for “the mothers and the children”.  Basically, he appeals to the character of God, knowing he himself is not worthy of mercy, but that the character of the Lord is one that should at least protect those that are innocent of this conflict.

Unlike Jacob’s, my pleading prayers have often sounded like wishful thinking.  It is rare that I claim the promises of God for my son when I think of his healing.  And my prayers often remain limited to what I expect God to do rather than opening them up to what aligns with His character. When I have not studied the character of God in depth, my prayers become based on my own character, human-like qualities, and weakness. What a sad prayer this becomes.  How can I have any hope in healing for my son if I’m only looking to what is humanly possible, and I don’t have any expectation of how God would act in this circumstance?

Josh finished explaining Jacob’s prayer with these words: “Friends, are you trying to “butter” God up, that He might grant your wishes? Or are you pleading your case before Him on the basis of who you know Him to be? May God grant us knowledge of Himself that we may petition Him as Jacob did.”

~Emily Spare