Genesis 32

v1-2: “When God has extraordinary times of testing in mind for his people, he prepares them with extraordinary encouragements.”

v3-8: It is normal for God’s people to have at times “a real awareness and fear of danger,” as well as “a humble confidence in God’s power and promises.”

v9-12: “Times of fear should become times of prayer.” Times of trouble “should drive us to our knees” and to call on God. We should not be reluctant to tell God our fears, for “he takes notice of them and cares about them.”

v13-23: After we have “prayed to God for any mercy,” we should “back up our prayers with our endeavours.”

v24-32: “All the spiritual descendants of Jacob, when they really pray, are wrestling with God.”

Genesis 33

v1-4: “It is not in vain that we trust God and call on him in the day of trouble.” When we do, it often the case that we “find the outcome much better” they we might have expected.

v5-15: “If what we have in this world increases in our hands, we must give thanks for it to the glory of God and acknowledge that he has dealt graciously with us in this, better than we deserve.”

v16-20: Through many dangers, toils, and snares, he eventually arrived. “When our going out and coming in have been specially preserved” by God, may this be a cause for greater thankfulness.