“I AM NOT WORTHY!”

 Genesis 32:9-12                 (ESV)

“[9] And Jacob said, “O GOD of my father Abraham and GOD of my father Isaac, O LORD WHO said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ [10] “I AM NOT WORTHY” of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that YOU have shown to YOUR servant, for with only my staff I crossed this Jordan, and now I have become two camps. [11] PLEASE DELIVER ME from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau, FOR I FEAR HIMf, that he may come and attack me, the mothers with the children. [12] But YOU (LORD) said, ‘I WILL SURELY DO YOU GOOD, and MAKE YOUR OFFSPRING AS THE SAND OF THE SEA, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’”

In these four (4) verses of Scripture we read that Jacob (later known as Israel) is “conversing” with his CREATOR!  This is something that I often do, but probably with less honesty than Jacob was able to do with GOD!  However, GOD is GOD and HE KNOWS my heart far better than I do and can readily KNOW TRUTH, in spite of my own discolorations!!

Jacob is telling GOD that “I AM NOT WORTHY” of the BLESSINGS he had received from GOD ALMIGHTY!  By the end of this chapter in Scripture, Jacob is “wrestling with GOD” and being renamed Israel……BY THE CREATOR!  

Did this “wrestling match” give indication that Jacob was “worthy” of anything!  Surely the GOD WHO SPOKE the world’s into existence could have simply SPOKE and Jacob would have ceased to exist??  But Jacob would wind up being renamed Israel (Genesis 32:28) by THE LORD “for you have striven with GOD and with men and have prevailed”!!!  

Although Jacob/Israel might have been known for his ability to use words for his “own good”, HE WAS CHOSEN by THE CREATOR to carry the name of HIS CHOSEN PEOPLE!!!  Jacob even said “I AM NOT WORTHY” of ANY of the BLESSINGS that he was asking from GOD!  He wasn’t WORTHY, but he was CHOSEN to be BLESSED by the CREATOR!!!

This humble servant is very much like Jacob.  “I AM NOT WORTHY” of anything except wrath and judgement from the ALMIGHTY!!!  But PRAISE JESUS for HIS sacrifice that purchased my salvation and HIS FORGIVENESS on Calvary’s tree!  “I AM NOT WORTHY”, but my SAVIOR is WORTHY!!!