”Then Jacob said, ‘O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, YEHOVAH who said to me, “Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you”. ‘I am not worthy of the least of all the lovingkindnesses 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. Deliver me, please, from the hand of my brother Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me, and the mother with the children. For You said, “I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude”.’ ” (Gen 32:9-12 [Eng])
I believe that Jacob’s prayer about 3800 years ago needs to become Israel’s and the Jewish people’s prayer today: to honestly and humbly [re]turn with faith to YEHOVAH, the Everlasting God Who Is, acknowledging His faithfulness to keep His covenant promises regarding the land (and the return to it), the good things, the innumerable multitude of the people. And to confess sincerely their hope in Him, and their fear of their brother Esau (who also represents a nation Gen 25:23), whom Jacob/Israel has good reason to believe intends to kill him and the whole family. (Gen 27:41)
This family history is playing out to its fruition in our day and time: the seed that was sown is bearing its fruit and showing its kind. Israel’s only hope is in returning to her God, who is also her Savior. Until now, Israel relies on his/their own abilities and power, rather than on the Spirit of YEHOVAH. (Zech 4:6)
Israel and the Jewish people do not have a completely clean conscience, which keeps them from turning in contrition and in faith to ask God’s intervention on their behalf. The Lord knows how to bring even this to pass. Hallelu-Yah!