That word that is not shared during Thanksgiving 2011

Jacob and his immediate family has left Laban his uncle with all his possession after 20 years of tough times under him. Laban caught up with him and they made peace, ate at the table together and Laban blessed his grandchildrens and daughters (who were Jacob's wives). After this in the beginning of Genesis 32 Jacob met some angels. In the way the Bible puts it:

Genesis 32:1 Amplified Bible (AMP)

THEN JACOB went on his way, and God's angels met him.

Angels came and met him when he left the mountain! What a wonderful encounter. Surely God must be with him now. And soon after he met them, he sent messengers to Esau his brother (who was trying to kill him after he took their father's blessing) to ask him to be reconciled with him. He wants to make peace with him.

Genesis 32:3-5 The Message (MSG)

Then Jacob sent messengers on ahead to his brother Esau in the land of Seir in Edom. He instructed them: "Tell my master Esau this, 'A message from your servant Jacob: I've been staying with Laban and couldn't get away until now. I've acquired cattle and donkeys and sheep; also men and women servants. I'm telling you all this, my master, hoping for your approval.'"

Then the messenger brought a fact back to Jacob

Genesis 32:6 The Message (MSG)

The messengers came back to Jacob and said, "We talked to your brother Esau and he's on his way to meet you. But he has four hundred men with him."

Now, there is 2 ways to view this situation. Jacob could think that Esau is bringing his men to welcome him back but he didn't.

Genesis 32:7 The Message (MSG)

Jacob was scared. Very scared. Panicked, he divided his people, sheep, cattle, and camels into two camps. He thought, "If Esau comes on the first camp and attacks it, the other camp has a chance to get away."

he chose to fear the 400 men that are coming and believe they are going to kill him because Esau has been wanting to do it for 20 years! And he's fearful, even when he's in God's camp on God's side! he chose to fear because that is the easiest thing to do. Friends, 2011 may present you with a fact that 2012 is not going to be kind to you, just as what Jacob has heard. It may be easier for you to fear what is going to come in 2012, but right there and then, after Jacob did precautionary measures to his possession and family, He sought the Lord in his prayer.

Genesis 32:9-12 The Message (MSG)

And then Jacob prayed, "God of my father Abraham, God of my father Isaac, God who told me, 'Go back to your parents' homeland and I'll treat you well.' I don't deserve all the love and loyalty you've shown me. When I left here and crossed the Jordan I only had the clothes on my back, and now look at me—two camps! Save me, please, from the violence of my brother, my angry brother! I'm afraid he'll come and attack us all, me, the mothers and the children. You yourself said, 'I will treat you well; I'll make your descendants like the sands of the sea, far too many to count.'"

Jacob remembered the promises of God during his prayer and we can see a change in Jacob's actions. He didn't flee with all that he has. Though the bible didn't say he wasn't fearful, but he decided to continue with the plan of making peace with his brother. God's promises to you are not empty words that fall flat on the ground. God's promises will hold on until it has come to pass and Jacob firmly believes in it! He believes in God what is written in Numbers 23:19

Numbers 23:19 Amplified Bible (AMP)

God is not a man, that He should tell or act a lie, neither the son of man, that He should feel repentance or compunction [for what He has promised]. Has He said and shall He not do it? Or has He spoken and shall He not make it good?

And after Jacob sorted out his possessions and family, he sought the Lord even more. God Himself appeared during his prayer time and Jacob cling onto Him and never wanted to let go until He blessed him. He persisted even though God tried to pull him off.

Genesis 32:24-29 New King James Version (NKJV)

Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.
Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him.
And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.”
But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!”
So He said to him, “What is your name?”
He said, “Jacob.”
And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.”
And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there.

He had the faith to ask God to bless him and it is his faith and persistence that God saw and blessed him for it. As we step into the new year, we could be facing a similar problem like Jacob but if we were to pray and seek God persistently like what Jacob did, God will surely rewards us for our faith. Continuing with the story, after God bless Jacob immediately Esau arrived at Jacob's camp and with him his 400 men. The next thing that happened can only be described as a miracle.

Genesis 33:1,4 New King James Version (NKJV)

Now Jacob lifted his eyes and looked, and there, Esau was coming, and with him were four hundred men. So he divided the children among Leah, Rachel, and the two maidservants.
But Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept.

Here was a man who was so angry at Jacob for stealing his inheritance, coming over to embrace him. What a turn of event! What a miracle! Jacob's fear didn't come to past, God's promises to him did!

It is God's grace, His empowerment on Jacob to face his fears with faith. His circumstances didn't change. The fact that Esau is coming with 400 hundred men didn't change, but Jacob trusted God and by faith he stayed to face Esau!

Friends how 2012 will be to us may not change, but God will change our mindset towards the fact when we pray and seek His direction about it. There will be times when someone prays and nothing changes physically but God has indeed changed something: our thinking! We will have the courage to face it and conquer it! We are called to be overcomers, to conquer all the problems and live a victorious life for Christ!

As we step into the new year, let's be like Jacob to face the new year with courage and persistent prayer. Come what may, God is with us. God will hear our prayers and God will surely deliver, just as He has delivered Jacob out of fear and out of his brother Esau. Amen!