January 9, 2022 - Genesis 32-35

God not only provided for Jacob in Laban's presence, but he also protected Jacob from Esau. Esau had had a change of heart. Though Jacob feared that Esau would remember the ruse with which he had tricked Esau and that Esau would be angry and eager to kill his brother, God had been working (unbeknownst to Jacob) in Esau's heart so that things turned out thusly: “But Esau ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck and kissed him, and they wept” (33:4).

Like Jacob, often, we are not aware of all that God is doing. And then, he shows us and we’re amazed. How many times do we, maybe after a period of doubting, have to say, “Oh, THAT’S what God was doing!” Jacob could not have known how God had worked in Esau’s life. He was going on what he knew from his last encounter with his brother. But God was at work even if Jacob was not aware. God is always at work. He is always accomplishing his purposes. Even when we are completely unaware, God is at work. And, so, when we cannot see, when we do not understand, when we are fearful, we sing.

Here, O my Lord, I see you face to face;

here would I touch and handle things unseen,

here grasp with firmer hand eternal grace,

and all my weariness upon you lean.

I have no help but yours nor do I need

another arm but yours to lean upon.

It is enough, O Lord, enough indeed;

my strength is in your might, your might alone.

– “Here, O my Lord, I see Thee face to face” Horatius Bonar (1855)