Title: Jacob confesses his unworthiness

Scripture reading: Genesis 32:10
“I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies.”

Main idea: Jacob acknowledged to God that he does not deserve the love and blessing of God.

As Jacob reviewed the past twenty years, he reminded God of the wonderful way He had cared for him. In every trial and burden that came to Jacob, God had been faithful and kind to care for him. When Jacob arrived at Laban’s home, all he owned was his walking stick, and now, by the blessing of God, he was a wealthy man.

He had eleven sons, one daughter, and large flocks and herds of livestock. God had indeed blessed Jacob greatly. Jacob took an inventory of his situation and realized he had done very well at his uncle Laban’s place. And in this blessing, he realized two important things.

First, God’s blessings are based on His grace.
“I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies.”

Jacob confessed his unworthiness here. Jacob knelt very low before God when he emphasized his unworthiness by saying he was not worthy of the “least” of God’s mercies. It is true that Jacob had sinned much. He had deceived his father and brother. Jacob did not deserve these blessings.

John Bunyan said, Grace can pardon our ungodliness and justify us with Christ’s righteousness; it can put the Spirit of Jesus Christ within us; it can help us when we are down; it can heal us when we are wounded; it can multiply pardons as we through frailty multiply transgressions. (John Bunyan 1628–1688)

None of us deserve Divine blessings. One thing the scripture teaches is that salvation is all of grace. Ephesians 2:8 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” Salvation comes by the way of mercy not merit. It is “not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us” (Titus 3:5). Isaiah 64:6 says, “all our righteousness are as filthy rags.” If you want Divine blessing, whether it be salvation or some other blessing, seek it via the way of Divine mercy, not by way of your merit. You get a whole lot more by God’s mercy than by your merit. In truth, our merit will not bless much at all.

Second, the source of all blessing is God
“I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies.”

Jacob did not list all of God’s mercies but in mentioning just one of them “my staff,” he included all of them. He had crossed over the River Jordan as a poor traveler, but now he returned with an abundance of possessions. The reference between only my staff and two groups should be noted, and by this he compared his former solitude and poverty with his present affluence.

The source of Jacob’s blessing was God. We need to recognize the source of all our blessings. We are so prone to brag and think that we have done everything ourselves. God is the One Who gives us all our blessing. But our society are telling us we do not need God. They would run God out of society and in so doing would run out the source of blessing. No matter how successful you have been, the reason is God. Any ability or wisdom you have is from God. Man has no reason to brag. God had taken Jacob when he had nothing and had prospered him so that he had now become two camps.

David confessed in 1 Chronicles 29:14-15, “But who am I, and who are my people, That we should be able to offer so willingly as this? For all things come from You, And of Your own we have given You. For we are aliens and pilgrims before You, As were all our fathers.”

Application
A woman said to D. L. Moody, “I’ve found a wonderful verse to help me overcome fear,” and she quoted Psalm 56:3 “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You.” “I can give you a better promise,” said Moody, and he quoted Isaiah 12:2: “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid.”

“God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble” (Psalms 46:1).

Let’s pray together
Heavenly Father, though we are unworthy, thank you Lord, You made us worthy before You through Your Son In Jesus Christ our Lord.  In Jesus Name, Amen.