In this story, we find the path that many followers of Christ have gone before. When they experience a difficulty they go to God in prayer and seek his help. The make use of the means and the intelligence that God has given them to make a plan. Then the wait on the Lord and rest in his wisdom and providence to do as he has promised. It may not be an easy one but it is one that God has promised to walk with us. Jacob had sinned against God and his brother 20 years before this night that we just read about. And now Jacob would experience the full weight of the consequence of his sin. God will often do this in the life of a believer. The problems that we experience today may be the result of sins we committed decades ago. God is often gracious towards us as he does not let us pay the consequence until he has fully prepared us. And God often lessens or removes the danger from the consequences that we expected and rightfully deserved. In this way, God teaches his children about his grace, mercy, and love but also the evil of sin. If you are not a follower of Christ, you are in the most dangerous place of all because the wrath of God will be poured out on you. God is not appeased by gifts like Jacob sent to Esau. You can’t bargain or gift your way into heaven. Yet, Jesus came as a propitiation for our sin. What does that mean? It means that Jesus is the one that appeased God’s wrath. Jesus’ death on the cross was the one thing that would stop the wrath of God from being poured out on a person. It is only by Jesus’ death can a person find favor with God. You must be in Christ. How can a person be in Christ? You cry out to God like Jacob. Claim the promises as your own. Flee to God for mercy. You know that what you have done in your life deserves death and nothing you can do can make up for that. Your only hope is to cry out to Jesus.