Chapter Thirteen

How to

Find

Grace

in the sight of

GOD

HOW TO FIND GRACE IN GOD’S SIGHT

Genesis 32 : 3 -- 33 : 11

3: And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom. 4: And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now: 5: And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight. 6: And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him. 7: Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands; 8: And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape. 9: And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee: 10: I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast shewed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I am become two bands. 11: Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children. 12: And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude. 13: And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother; 14: Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams, 15: Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals. 16: And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove. 17: And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee? 18: Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob's; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us. 19: And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him. 20: And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me. 21: So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company. 22: And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. 23: And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had. 24: And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25: And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26: And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27: And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28: And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. 29: And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. 30: And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. 31: And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. 32: Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew that shrank.

1: And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids. 2: And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost. 3: And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother. 4: And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept. 5: And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant. 6: Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves. 7: And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves. 8: And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord. 9: And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.

10: And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me. 11: Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.

32:3-5: The place of PRAYER. Jacob comes to the end of his journey home and ponders the prospect of meeting his brother Esau. Jacob sends “messengers” to communicate with Esau whom he addresses as “my Lord”. When we face the prospect of meeting Brother Jesus we should have the same respect of honor calling Him Lord. In seeking Christ we need to remember the acrostic A. S. K. in the following verse: Matthew 7 : 7: Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: 8: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Jacob’s desire is grace (vs. 5), and he petitions his brother with the “messengers”. The Hebrew word is malawk, and its meaning is to dispatch a deputy: i.e., angel, prophet, priest, ambassador. We can use God’s messengers the angels and the inner intercessions of the Holy Spirit. Romans 8:26: Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered. The principle of everything working together in Romans 8:28 is preceeded by the groanings of the Spirit of God within us praying in accord with the will of the Almighty. Without this precedence in prayer our petitions might well go unheeded, and we might not get the grace we so earnestly need and want.

32:6: The ANSWER to Jacob’s Prayer is Esau is coming with an army of four Hundred men. For the Christian Brother the answer from Jesus is “Behold he cometh with 10,000 of His saints.” (Deut. 33;2; Jude 14). In the opening verses of the Apocolypse it is reiterated. You want to see Jesus? You will! It will be as the disciples saw Him go in Acts 1 -- in the clouds. Revelation 1 : 7: Behold, he cometh with clouds; and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen. What will they be wailing about? If everyone is so happy doing their own thing why will they wail when Brother Jesus appears on the scene? Because their lack of personal glory will be exposed by His eternal glory. Matthew 16:27: For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works. This is where the wailing come in -- judgment. This was Jacob’s point of fear and doubt of his brother -- his past works. If you attempt to relate to Brother Jesus on the basis of your past works you too will doubt and falter in faith. Matthew 14 : 29: And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. 30: But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. 31: And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? Peter doubted because he saw his surroundings and was afraid, but in his fear he called out to the Savior. The two go together.

32:7-8: The RESULT of this prayer and answer is FEAR. Jacob is both afraid (Heb: yawray: reverent dead) and distressed (Heb: yatsar: to press narrowly in a strait press) and because of his fear and distress he creates division in the congregation before meeting His maker face to face. How much division is made within the church because we allow fear and stress to enter in and do not enter into prayer? Proverbs 1:7: The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Not being a total dummy, after sending the family on ahead, Jacob has his time in the prayer closet. It is this time of fear in the prayer closet that is the starting point in finding God’s grace. You have to face your fear, recognize it, and then take it with you into the prayer closet.

32:9-12: PRAY AGAIN. After wending his message to his brother, Jacob turns and addresses the “Father”. Our prayer addresses are to be to the Father, in the Name of the Son, and in the power of the Spirit. When you come admit worthlessness. Romans 3 : 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;. This establishes your total dependence on the abilities and merits of the Trinity. You are then in a position to ask for deliverance. Romans 10 : 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. While the context of Romans is eternal salvation, God offers His salvation in other areas of our life as well.

32:13-23:WRONG EFFORT - is often put forward as the basis for appeasing the Son of God. Jacob attempts a “works” effort with his brother Esau. It is not accepted. Trying to appease with works [ note verse 20 ] to find the grace of God will not work either. The problem with the use of works for acceptance is they are tainted with me, myself, and I -- wrong trinity! The following verses describe the simplicity of the grace found in Jesus: II Cor. 11:3: But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. Titus 3 : 5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Ephesians 2 :8: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9: Not of works, lest any man should boast. The verse of a hymn says “In my hand no price I bring, simply to Thy cross I cling.” You have nothing to offer, so don’t bring it!

32:24-25: You may have to STRUGGLE to receive God’s grace. Your situation may call for more then “Now I lay me down to sleep....” You, as Jacob, may have to send everyone away and enter into extraterrestrial wrestling to gain the grace from the throne of mercy. In the name of Christ our Brother we may do so boldly. Hebrews 4 : 14 - 16 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. 15: For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. Jacob was very bold in his wrestling with the angel. He refuses to let go without getting blessed.

32:26-29: The name of the game is to change your name. The angel changes Jacob’s from the supplanter to Israel the prince with the power of God. What power do you have? How long has it been since your prevailed? Why not change your’s from faithless to believing? Jeremiah 33 :3: Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not. What do you want to see? What great and mighty act do you need for God to perform? Pick up the phone! Get in the prayer closet and stay there till you inherit a blessing. Be a Moses and ask God for a personal audience. Go to Peniel: (Heb: 6439 laeWnP. {pen-oo-ale'} or (more properly,) laeynIP. {pen-ee-ale'} • "facing God", the place named by Jacob when he wrestled with God and located on the north bank of the Jabbok close to the Jordan _).

32:30-32: Have a FACE TO FACE encounter with God where His eternal glory will dispell all darkness and bring every hidden thing to light. He knows you well and is willing to share that knowledge with you. I Corinthians 13 : 12: For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. He wants to prepare you with His promises that have reward both of the life that now is and of that which is to come. God wants to prepare you for His coming again.

33:1-2: The SECOND COMING, are you ready? If your knowledge of the second coming is minimal then you most likely are living in ignorance which is contrary to Biblical teaching. You are accountable for knowing. To know you must study (II Timothy 2:15). Here is a select passage for such study: I Thessalonians 4 : 13 - 18: 13: But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. 14: For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 15: For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 16: For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 18: Wherefore comfort one another with these words. There is going to be a meeting in the air, actually two of them. You will be at one or the other. You should find out which one and prepare for the meeting of your choice. If you continue to walk in ignorance then God will choose for you and I am sure you will not like the choice. Paul made his choice and knew where his citizenship was listed.

II Timothy 4 : 17: Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I as delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18: And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. Jacob had a fear of his brother Esau and the wrath he left behind. If you are afraid of Jesus Christ, or the prospect of dying, and/or facing judgment, or maybe of just life itself, then you need to look into the love of God. You will find that love set forth in the Gospels in the crucifixion, in I Corinthians 13, and I John. If you will let the love of Christ shine into your heart and life it will bring you peace. I John 4 : 17 Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. 18: There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. If this kind of fear has a grip on you it can be released at the cross by the blood of Christ, and by the Holy Spirit which He has sent into the world for us. To find this grace and peace you must mentally terminate yourself and submit to the total leadership of the Lord Jesus Christ.

33:3-7: BOW THE KNEE is what Jacob did at the meeting of his brother Esau. He did so in fear yet in humiliation after all night wrestling. You would do well to do the same, yet boldly, before God’s throne in glory confessing faith in Jesus. Psalm 2:12: Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. Philippians 2 : 10: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; 11: And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

33:8-11 What about your GIFTS? Before you bow the knee God will not accept your gifts for they are tainted with yourself and your sin, besides, God doesn’t need them. Psalm 50:12: If I were hungry, I would not tell thee: for the world is mine, and the fullness thereof. 13: Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? 14: Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High: 15: And call upon me in the day of trouble: I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. What God wants from you and your life is “His Glory” reflected. When you have surrendered all to Jesus then He can begin to create that reflected glory. II Corinthians 5:17: Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. When you are made new you will have found His grace. When you have found grace in His sight He will accept your gifts, but not until. The gifts from us that He accepts and blesses are those given out of His selfless glory. His re-creative power will do that in us. Ephesians 2 10: For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.