Human Response 80: Acknowledge Undeserved Mercies

Genesis 32:2, 10 And when Jacob saw them (the angels of God), he said, This is God’s host, and he called the name of that place Mahanaim….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.

As Jacob was about to reenter the Promised Land, and fearful of Esau, an army of God’s angels appeared to him. In his fearful state God showed up to give him comfort, protection, encouragement, and hope. Jacob saw the army of God and named the place ”two camps,” referring to his human entourage and the heavenly host. Esau was coming with 400 men, but Jacob had a host of God’s angels. The Lord showed him that ”there were more with us than with them.”

Jacob responded to this powerful vision of God’s love and blessing with the humble confession of his own unworthiness. When we see the overwhelming mercies of God, we too are driven to our knees in repentance and thanksgiving. When faced with the victory of the cross we realize that we ”poor, miserable sinners” are not worthy of a shred of mercy, but there it is in glorious technicolor in the gospel. We are so thankful for the undeserved mercy of God in Christ, that with the Lord on our side we believe that can face any spiritual enemy, and win peace.

We pray that the Gospel vision will overwhelm us into abject repentance and sheer thankfulness for mercy. Then God promises the courage and hope to move on. If undeserved mercies are shown to sinners like Jacob, then we can be certain God shows mercy to sinners like us. We respond to the gospel: I am not worthy of the least of all Thy mercies.