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Prayer in Time of Fear
As we open the Parasha we see Jacob expecting a battle with his brother Esau, and his concern was escape, not reconciliation. Fear overcame him, lack of faith (32:8).
One minute he prayed for GOD’s help and the next he devises some new way to appease his angry brother.
He needed to be broken, delivered from himself, not from his brother. He needed to be broken in order to be healed, weakened to be strengthened. When he surrendered, he won and became a Prince of GOD (32:25-29).
GOD’s people also fail to live up to their new life (2 Cor 5:17). We do not claim what we already have. We have been given Promises such as: Heb 13:5, Joshua 1:5-GOD will not leave you, Luke 11:2-GOD has not given us scorpions, Matt 1:8-we will receive power, John 15:26-We are given the Comforter.
GOD gave Jacob a limp to encourage him in the way of faith. GOD chastens His people to straighten them up (Rev 3:19, Psalm 94:10). Some, however, are sickly and may fall asleep (death-1Cor 11:30) due to lack of faith, and walking away from GOD.
We need to overcome and hold fast to what we have-Rev 3:11-12. Overcome with the promises we have been given; thus we will be made into pillars in the Temple of our GOD. We need to put away the foreign gods, purify ourselves, and receive new garments-Gen 35:2. As the prophet Isaiah (1:18-19) states, “Come now, and let us reason together, says the Lord, though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, they will be like wool. If you consent and obey, you will eat the best of the Lord.”
Shavua Tov
Rabbi Z
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