A Band of Angels and Some Best Laid Plans

George Mueller, a great man of faith and prayer, was once asked about the most essential part of prayer. He answered, "'The fifteen minutes after I have said Amen.'"

In Genesis, Chapter 32, Jacob is in a tough predicament. He is finally leaving his father-in-law, Laban's dishonest wheeler-dealer employment. He's coming clean. He's going home. One problem: he has to face his brother Esau, whom he grossly wronged twenty years earlier. At the time, Esau was so angry he threatened to kill Jacob.

Jacob wants nothing more than to come clean, to finally get things right, make amends, and live peacefully. So, where does he turn? Jacob seeks God in prayer, and God then sends His angels, visible to Jacob, to comfort and strengthen him in his decision. This would be enough for me to move on, but then again, I am human, and there's a lot of Jacob in me. I feared I would take matters into my own hands as Jacob did. Right there in front of God, the angels, and anything within earshot, he begins to scheme and plan how to protect his family, hang onto his possessions, and appease Esau. Jacob executes his plan and sends his family ahead of him, but there's no rest for Jacob as he wrestles all night with God. Jacob wants to hear God's blessing on this venture before he starts. (Did he forget he just sent his family ahead of him?) That's usually the order in which things go when we take matters into our own hands - our plans first.

Nevertheless, God gave Jacob his blessing or assurance, and he reunited with his brother. God took care of his family and possessions, and even as unnecessary as it was, Jacob personally concocted a plan to win Esau's favor.

In uncertain times, God sends His presence. Maybe it comes via a band of angels. Perhaps not, but He always provides what we need to make it through to better times. The Father knows what past failures and sins keep us from resting in Him. He stays close. He waits. He is patient with our self-laid plans and efforts, and He watches until we finally learn it's best to fall into His open arms and see the blessing that comes from less trying, less wrestling, and more trusting.

"But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around him. And they wept." Genesis 33:4

Constantly bank on the band of angels in any form God sends them.

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