OUR DAILY BREAD : LESS THAN THE LEAST

[cimi]

November 5
Wednesday


LESS THAN
THE LEAST

READ:
Genesis 32:3-12
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I am not worthy of the
least of all the mercies
and of all the truth
which You have shown
Your servant.
__Genesis
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Unlike those who think highly of themselves, Jacob knew that he had been ruined by sin (Gen. 32:10). He thought himself a man unworthy of God's grace. He had cheated his brother Esau out of his birthright (ch.27), and his brother hated him for it. Now, years later, Jacob was going to face Esau again.

"I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies," Jacob prayed, using a word for "least" that suggests the tiniest object. "Deliver me, I pray" (32:10-11).

How odd to see those phrases side by side: I am unworthy of Your mercies....Deliver me! yet Jacob could pray for mercy because his hope lay not in his own worth, but in God's promise to look with favor on those who throw themselves at His feet. Humility and contrition are the keys that open the heart of God. Someone has said that the best disposition for praying is being stripped of everything. It is crying out of the depths. It comes from the soul that knows its deep depravity.

Such prayers are offered by those who are thoroughly convicted of their sin and shame, but, at the same time, are convinced of God's grace that goes out to undeserving sinners. God hears best those who cry out: "God, be merciful to me a sinner!" (Luke 18:13). __David Roper

``````````````````Lord, I am like Jacob, in need of Your mercy.``````````````````
`````````````````I have failed You, and I bow at Your feet today.`````````````````
``````````````````Thank You for being a merciful God, ready````````````````````
``````````````````````and able to forgive and restore me.`````````````````````
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It is fitting for a great God to forgive great sinners.

*************************Today's Bible Reading __ Genesis 32:3-12***************************

3 Then Jacob sent
messengers before him to
Esau his brother in the land
of Seir, the country of Edom,

4 And he commanded them,
saying, "Speak thus to my
lord Esau, 'Thus your servant
Jacob says: "I have dwelt
with Laban and stayed there
until now. 5 I have oxen,
donkeys, flocks, and male
and female servants; and I
have sent to tell my lord, that
I may find favor in your
sight." ' "

6 Then the messengers
returned to Jacob, saying,
"We came to your brother
Esau, and he also is coming
to meet you, and four
hundred men are with him."

7 So Jacob was greatly afraid
and distressed; and he
divided the people that were
with him, and the flocks and
herds and camels, into two
companies. 8 and he said, "If
Esau comes to the one
company and attacks it, then
the other company which is
left will escape."

9 Then Jacob said, "O God
of my father Abraham and
God of my father Isaac, the
LORD who said to me,
'return to your country and
to your family, and I will
deal well with you': 10 I am
not worthy of the least of all
the mercies and of all the
truth which Youhahve shown
Your servant.... 11 Deliver
me, I pray, from the hand of
my brother, from the hand of
Esau; for I fear him, lest he
come and attack me and the
mother with the children.

12 For You said, "I will surely
treat you well, and make
your descendents as the sand
of the sea, which cannot be
numbered for multitude.' "

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>INSIGHT<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

Jacob had good reason to fear his brother Esau. With trickery and
deception, Jacob had stolen both Esau's inheritance (Gen. 25) and
his blessing (Gen. 27). Esau's last recorded words before he met
Jacob again (Gen. 32) were "I will kill my brother Jacob" (27:41).