Day 20 - Gensis 32-33 and Psalm 20

 Julie

So I am trying to look at today's passage a little differently. Reading it I honestly wasn't sure where to go with what this story, but some things did come to light that made me think of how I might have done that or what did they learn from this situation. One question I think that we should think about is how to we battle God? I think that at we are all guilty of battling God, not that we should, but we do tend to do that sometimes. Our attempts to want to control situations instead of letting go and letting God cause us to enter these battles. 

I also think that Jacob may have actually learned his lesson, in that he was trying to repent to his brother for taking what had been rightfully his and trying to give him all that he had acquired during the time he was away. Amazingly, Esau seemed very forgiving, and I hope that we get to see how he the story from his view to understand how he came forgive the way he did, or how he really felt about it.

Psalm 20 is asking the Lord for help, but also reminding us to trust in God. If we are going to ask for God to help us with things, then we should trust that he is going to do it. Although, we do need to remember that it may not happen in the way that we ask and we need to be prepared and trust in the direction that God will take things.

Michelle

I appreciate your interpretation and can see how you came to it. My first impression was that Jacob was trying to appease his brothers assumed anger with all the gifts he sent ahead instead of just talking to him first and seeing how it went. It gave me the feeling that he was being deceitful in his intentions. But after reading your response I can see how it could be interpreted that way and it makes sense. 

I was trying to understand the purpose of wrestling with God. You are right. We have a tendency to keep trying to control the things in our lives and the outcomes from our decisions that we don’t allow god to just take over. If we did we would probably be less stressed about life. 

The psalm sounds like a prayer for others to receive blessings from God. And to trust in god with all things and thru everything.