Day 3: Who are You?
Jacob said, “Please tell me Your name.” But He replied, “Why do you ask My name?” Then He blessed him there (Genesis 32:29).
Our Father in heaven, the psalmist prayed, If You, Lord, kept a record of sins, Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness, so that we can, with reverence, serve You (Psalm 130:3-4).
The story of humanity is the story of Your redemption from the hand of the foe (Psalm 107:2). And although the "foe" is sometimes our own folly and guilt (Psalm 69:5), You hear us in mercy when we sincerely cry out to You (Psalm 107:4-32).
O Lord, [prayed the prophet Jeremiah] I know the way of man is not in himself; It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps (Jeremiah 10:23). But when like Jacob, we come to the end of ourselves—when in the darkness we face our fears, our consequences, even our reckoning—You hear our great fear and distress (Genesis 32: 7-12, 22-23).
By Your great mercy, You come to us in the lonely hours, even when in the dark of confusion we grope blindly and wonder who You are (Genesis 32:29). But You know us, You know everything we ever did (John 4:29), and You offer us redemption, a new identity, new hope, and a new beginning (Genesis 32:28-29; John 4:14; 2 Corinthians 5:17).
God of restoration, You know our story. You know our guilt and our folly. You know where we've wronged, and where we have been wronged. You know every hurt, every broken relationship, every mistake, every failed venture.
You are able to meet us in every story of distress: desert wastelands...darkness, the utter darkness...iron chains...gates of bronze...bars of iron...rebellious ways...iniquities...the tempest...the depths...mighty waters...storms... (Psalm 107: 4,10,16,17, 23, 25, 26).
Thank You, merciful God, that You hear us when we cry out to the Lord in our trouble (Psalm 107:28). Help us not to wrestle in stubbornness or rebellion, but with a prevailing, unyielding, humble supplication that insists, "I will not let You go unless You bless me" (Genesis 32:26).
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