I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which Thou hast shewed unto Thy servant, for with my staff I passed over this Jordan, and now I am become two bands. Genesis 32:10
Humble words from the lips of a mighty man! Here is Jacob, fresh from his successful flight from Laban and his successful negotiation of peace with his father-in-law. He has also experienced the reality of fresh promises from God to give him all of the inheritance of his father and grandfather. With all of the assurances of the wonderful future that God was promising, Jacob also realized that he is filled with dread for his family and flocks at the hands of his brother Esau. Now, this great schemer, this successful herdsman, this wily businessman comes to a realization that he is nothing apart from what God is pleased to give him. His words at this time of humility are good for us to study and to echo, as we realize how small we are and how great are the blessings and promises from God.
Jacob first acknowledges God’s mercies. Since he left his father’s tent he has been guided and blessed and protected. He has experienced the hand of God upon him for good, and has known of God’s sheltering him from the wrath of both Esau and Laban, among others. We acknowledge God’s mercies in reaching and saving us from our sins. But how often to we mark the daily mercies that God grants, the blessings bestowed, the shelter from the evil that the world and the devil seek to do to us, and the guidance from the Holy Spirit. Do we deserve any of these? Like Jacob, we must say no. And yet God grants us His mercies despite our failures and stumblings and doubt.
God has also shown to us His truth. We don’t deserve it, but God has opened our eyes to His great Salvation. He has also enabled us to learn from Scripture the truth about believer’s baptism, the honour of being gathered with other saints to His name, and many other precious treasures. The more we study and understand these things, the more we must echo Jacob’s words: I am not worthy. Just as with His Salvation, God does not give us what we deserve, but is pleased to pour out on us His blessings according to His love and mercy.
Of all God’s great mercies that you have experienced today, what have you deserved? It is humbling to realize that not even the least have we merited. Give thanks for our merciful God. -Jim MacIntosh