Genesis 34:13

Genesis 34:13 says, And the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father deceitfully, and said, because he had defiled Dinah their sister:  Diana's brothers answered Shechem and Hamor, but they hadn't forgotten what Shechem did to her.  Sometimes our answers may be influenced by the auctions of others.  Verse fourteen states, And they said unto them, We cannot do this thing, to give our sister to one that is uncircumcised; for that were a reproach unto us:  The brothers said that they could not give Dinah to someone who wasn't circumcised, since that would be a reproach to them.  Circumcision was a sign that someone was a one of God's people.  As Christians, we today might say that we didn't want our sister to marry a non Christian, but it takes more than some physical act to make someone a Christian.  Verse fifteen declares, But in this will we consent unto you: If ye will be as we be, that every male of you be circumcised;  This could have been seen as a good thing, since it would show Sechem's and Hamor's willingness to be identified with God's people.  Still, the motivation of everyone involved was wrong.  We cannot attempt to get someone to identify as a follower of Christ for our own purposes, nor can someone claim to be a follower of Christ simply for their own benefit and make it true.  Verse sixteen adds, Then will we give our daughters unto you, and we will take your daughters to us, and we will dwell with you, and we will become one people.  The brothers of Dinah told Sechem and Hamor if they would be circumcised, then they would give Dinah to Senechem as a wife.  Once more, we cannot use becoming a follower of Christ as a means to attain an earthly goal.  Verse seventeen continues,  But if ye will not hearken unto us, to be circumcised; then will we take our daughter, and we will be gone.  The brothers of Dinah, even though they identified her as their sister, said do this or we will take her and be gone.  We can never use becoming a follower of Christ as a means to an earthly end, though it was never the intention of the brothers that Sechem and Hamor become a part of God's family.  Verse eighteen states, And their words pleased Hamor, and Shechem Hamor’s son.  This sounded good to Sechem and Hamor, but the act had no spiritual meaning to them.  Some people today are willing to claim to be followers of Christ simply to achieve an earthly goal.  Verse nineteen declares, And the young man deferred not to do the thing, because he had delight in Jacob’s daughter: and he was more honourable than all the house of his father.  Shechem was willing to go along with this demand.  Verse twenty adds, And Hamor and Shechem his son came unto the gate of their city, and communed with the men of their city, saying,  Then verse twenty-one continues, These men are peaceable with us; therefore let them dwell in the land, and trade therein; for the land, behold, it is large enough for them; let us take their daughters to us for wives, and let us give them our daughters.  Sechem and Hamor basically told their people that they would benefit from this agreement as well.  Verse twenty-two states,  Only herein will the men consent unto us for to dwell with us, to be one people, if every male among us be circumcised, as they are circumcised.  Sechem and Hamor said that only by being circumcised could they become one people.  Even if we demanded that everyone today be baptized, that would not make us all a part of God's family just as being circumcised without faith would not make these people a part of God's family.  Verse twenty-three asks, Shall not their cattle and their substance and every beast of theirs be ours? only let us consent unto them, and they will dwell with us.   Sechem and Hamor told the people that they would all benefit from this.  They said what was Jacob's would become theirs.  Verse twenty-four declares, And unto Hamor and unto Shechem his son hearkened all that went out of the gate of his city; and every male was circumcised, all that went out of the gate of his city.  All the males agreed to this demand and were circumcised.  No one involved was really seeking God's will in this.  We cannot use Christianity as a means to physically or materially take advantage of others if we are followers of Christ.

Genesis 34:1

Genesis 34:1 says, And Dinah the daughter of Leah, which she bare unto Jacob, went out to see the daughters of the land.  Dinah went to visit some of the women that already lived there.  Jacob had been afraid of Esau, but he evidently wasn't too concerned about the other people he met or he would have still been keeping Dinah protected.  When we worry, which God tells us we shouldn't do, often the worry that we do have is misplaced to start with.  Verse two states, And when Shechem the son of Hamor the Hivite, prince of the country, saw her, he took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.  Dinah was defiled by Shechem, the son of the prince of the country.  Shechem had probably gotten pretty much anything he wanted because of his position of power.  There are still people in power today who feel that they should be able to do anything they want to do.  Verse three adds, And his soul clave unto Dinah the daughter of Jacob, and he loved the damsel, and spake kindly unto the damsel.  We are told that afterwards Shechem felt deeply that he loved Dinah.  He evidently had little respect and concern for her to start with though.  His feelings afterward could not change his actions before, nor can changing our minds about how we feel about someone we have harmed change our actions before if we have harmed them.  Verse four states, And Shechem spake unto his father Hamor, saying, Get me this damsel to wife.  Shechem went to his father and asked him to get Dinah for his wife.  He never asked Jacob, or Dinah for that matter, but simply felt that Hamor could do anything he wanted to do.  There are still people today who feel that their family's wealth and power entitle them to anything they want, but even if we become rich and powerful, as followers of Christ, we must never have that attitude.  Verse five declares, And Jacob heard that he had defiled Dinah his daughter: now his sons were with his cattle in the field: and Jacob held his peace until they were come.  When Jacob heard what had happened to Dinah, his sons were in the field, so he didn't do anything until they returned.  Jacob could have just stormed off after Dinah, but he waited until he had more help.  We need to act in the best way possible when we encounter injustice in the world.  Verse six says, And Hamor the father of Shechem went out unto Jacob to commune with him.  Hamor went to Jacob to commune, or talk, with him in an attempt to do what Shechem wanted.  Verse seven states, And the sons of Jacob came out of the field when they heard it: and the men were grieved, and they were very wroth, because he had wrought folly in Israel in lying with Jacob’s daughter; which thing ought not to be done.  Jacob's sons were very angry when they heard what had happened to Dinah.  We today should be upset when we hear of injustice in the world, but we should look to God for guidance in how to deal with it.  We cannot just be ruled by our anger.  Verse eight states, And Hamor communed with them, saying, The soul of my son Shechem longeth for your daughter: I pray you give her him to wife.  Hamar said that Shechem's soul longed for Dinah and asked that Jacob give her to Shechem as a wife.  Shechem was still only looking for what he wanted , after he had already treated Dinah with no respect.  We cannot justify sinful actions by suddenly attempting to treat those we have mistreated with respect.  Verse nine adds, And make ye marriages with us, and give your daughters unto us, and take our daughters unto you.  Hamar proposed that Jacob give Dinah to them in marriage and then they would give their daughters in marriage to Jacob's sons.  Basically, Hamar was suggesting combining the two families.  This was definitely not God's plan.  Verse ten continues, And ye shall dwell with us: and the land shall be before you; dwell and trade ye therein, and get you possessions therein.  Shechem was offering to allow Jacob to live there in peace and use the land.  God had already promised Jacob that he would be the father of a great nation, which was the continuation of His promise to Abraham and Isaac.  Jacob didn't need Hamar to accomplish this.  We today have the promise of everlasting life through Christ, and we must never think that we should compromise with the world to claim it.  Verse eleven states, And Shechem said unto her father and unto her brethren, Let me find grace in your eyes, and what ye shall say unto me I will give.  Now, Shechem was offering anything that Jacob and his sons wanted for the right to marry Dinah.  We should never feel that money can erase sin.  Shechem evidently felt that money would justify anything.  Verse twelve adds, Ask me never so much dowry and gift, and I will give according as ye shall say unto me: but give me the damsel to wife.  Shechem was willing to pay anything to get what he wanted.  Some people today feel that their riches should entitle them to anything they want, but this is not what God says.

Genesis 33:12

Genesis 33:12 says, And he said, Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before thee.  Esau said that they should return home and that he would lead.  The reconciliation was complete.  Esau no longer wanted to kill Jacob, and Jacob no longer feared Esau.  When we reconcile with others under God's guidance, we should then be traveling in the same direction, going toward our everlasting home.  Verse thirteen states, And he said unto him, My lord knoweth that the children are tender, and the flocks and herds with young are with me: and if men should overdrive them one day, all the flock will die.  Jacob expressed his concern about his family and his flocks to Esau.  Some were young and couldn't travel very fast without possibly harming them.  I believe that we need to understand that some of our fellow believers are younger in faith than we are and may not be able to travel as fast as we do in our journey for God.  We should never demand that they travel faster than they can just to keep up with us.  Verse fourteen adds, Let my lord, I pray thee, pass over before his servant: and I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure, until I come unto my lord unto Seir.  Again calling Esau lord, Jacob asked him to go ahead at his own speed and promised that he would catch up to him.  We may not travel at the same speed in our spiritual journey, but as followers of Christ, we can promise to end up at the same place one day, and that is our heavenly home.  Verse fifteen declares, And Esau said, Let me now leave with thee some of the folk that are with me. And he said, What needeth it? let me find grace in the sight of my lord.  Esau offered to leave some of his men to accompany Jacob, but Jacob said he didn't need them.  Jacob had God's protection, though he often seemed to forget that fact, so he didn't need Esau's men to protect Him.  When we are truly following God's will, we do not need to rely on anyone in this world to protect us.  Ultimately, we must rely on God alone, though it is good to know that we are not alone in following Christ.  Verse sixteen states, So Esau returned that day on his way unto Seir.  Esau left that day on his journey home, his relationship with Jacob now restored.  Neither had mentioned the birthright.  We may at times allow the things of this world, which the birthright really was, to control our attitude towards others, only to realize later on that they don't really matter.  Verse seventeen says, And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.  When Jacob got to Succoth, he stopped for awhile.  Then verse eighteen adds, And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city.  After resting up, Jacob continued on to Canaan.  We may need to pause and rest occasionally in our spiritual journey, but we must never allow things in this world to keep us from our journey to our heavenly home.  Verse nine states, And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for an hundred pieces of money.  Though God had promised Jacob this land, he didn't just claim it because of that promise, but he bought it.  We cannot just take what belongs to other people and claim that God has already given us the right to do so.  Verse twenty declares, And he erected there an altar, and called it EleloheIsrael.  After Jacob bought the land, he built an altar to God.  As followers of Christ, we should always let the world know that God is the One Who is responsible for our successes in life, and we should likewise let the world know that He is with us even in our failures.  We must simply always give God the glory.

Genesis 33:1

Genesis 33:1 says, And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids.  Jacob saw Esau coming with four hundred men, so he separated his children with their mothers.  Verse two adds, And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.  Jacob was still playing favorites.  He still favored Leah and her children over the handmaidens and their children, but he favored Rachel and her son most.  Jacob put them where he felt they would be the safest or most protected.  When we encounter possible danger in the world today, we as followers of Christ, must stand united and we can never play favorites.  Since God does not divide His children, those who accept Christ as Savior and Lord, into categories and love some more than others, neither should we.  Verse three continues, And he passed over before them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.  At least Jacob did not try to hide behind his wives and children.  He went out humbly to meet Esau, bowing seven times along the way.  Though by the blessing of Isaac Jacob was in power over Esau, he did not meet him that way.  Even though we as followers of Christ are in a morally superior position to the lost of the world, we cannot ever attempt to lord it over them.  We are still simply sinners saved by grace.  Verse four declares, And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.  This was not the greeting that Jacob had envisioned.  Esau met him as a long separated brother and not as an enemy.  Sometimes, we fear and prepare for the worst when it never happens.  Jacob still had not fully trusted God to keep him safe.  We must never allow fear to keep us from acting in faith.  Verse five declares, And he lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, Who are those with thee? And he said, The children which God hath graciously given thy servant.  Esau saw the women and children and asked Jacob who they were.  Jacob said that they were the children that God had generously blessed him with.  He did not say who the women were, because I still don't believe that he could have said that God blessed him with more than one wife.  God may bless us when we do something outside His will, but we can never claim that it was His will that we did things our way.  Verse six states, Then the handmaidens came near, they and their children, and they bowed themselves.  Then verse seven adds, And Leah also with her children came near, and bowed themselves: and after came Joseph near and Rachel, and they bowed themselves.  Jacob's family came to Esau as Jacob had divided them and bowed to him.  They may not have known everything that had happened between Esau and Jacob, but they did know that Jacob felt threatened by Esau.  We may not always know everything that has happened in the lives of those that we are closest to, but we must stand with them by faith if we feel that they are in danger.  Verse eight says, And he said, What meanest thou by all this drove which I met? And he said, These are to find grace in the sight of my lord.  Esau asked Jacob the meaning of the flocks that Jacob had sent to him.  Jacob said they were a gift to Esau so that Esau would show grace to him.  We should never attempt to bribe others if we have done wrong by them, but should simply ask for their forgiveness.  We certainly should never attempt to bribe God, but must simply always rely on His grace.  Verse nine proclaims, And Esau said, I have enough, my brother; keep that thou hast unto thyself.  Esau didn't want the gifts that Jacob had sent to him.  Whether it was the time that had passed or his own success, Esau was no longer angry with Jacob.  We should never let fear determine how we approach others, since very often these fears are unfounded, and as followers of Christ we certainly cannot allow something that happened years ago to determine our relationship with someone else today.  This is especially true if we were the ones in the wrong.  Verse ten states, And Jacob said, Nay, I pray thee, if now I have found grace in thy sight, then receive my present at my hand: for therefore I have seen thy face, as though I had seen the face of God, and thou wast pleased with me.  Then verse eleven adds, Take, I pray thee, my blessing that is brought to thee; because God hath dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough. And he urged him, and he took it.  Instead of attempting to cheat Esau, Jacob insisted that Esau take the gifts.  Jacob said that God had richly blessed him and that he had enough.  We need to acknowledge that God has richly blessed us with salvation through our faith in Christ, and this should be enough.  Any earthly blessings that God gives us we should be willing to share with others, but above all else we must be willing to share the gospel.  We cannot force anyone to accept the gospel, but we need to humbly present it to them.

Genesis 32:22

Genesis 32:22 says, And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.  Jacob took his family over the ford at Jabbok.  He was progressing a little farther toward his home.  Verse twenty-three states, And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.  Jacob was separating himself from his family at this time.  Matthew Henry says it was so he could be alone in seeking God's blessing.  There may come a time when we need to be alone with God, especially if we are wrestling with difficult decisions.  Though it is good to know that others are praying for us, ultimately we must stand alone before God.  Verse twenty-four declares, And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.  When Jacob was alone, he wrestled with a man, or really an angel, until the breaking of the day.  Knowing the power of angels, we have to know that the only way Jacob could have stood a chance against the angel was if God was giving Jacob the strength.  We cannot hope to win in a fight against God's angels unless God is using this struggle to teach us more about our relationship with Him.  Verse twenty-five adds, And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.  When the angel saw that he wasn't winning in his fight he disjointed Jacob's thigh with a touch.  I believe that the angel had the power to completely disable Jacob, but that this was not God's will.  Sometimes, as we struggle with spiritual questions, we may in effect come out battered and bruised, but God will keep us from being spiritually destroyed.  Verse twenty-six continues, And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.  The angel requested that Jacob let him go because the morning was coming.  If we wrestle with God, ultimately we simply have to let go of our own strength and abilities and allow God to guide and bless us.  Verse twenty-seven asks, And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.  The angel asked Jacob his name, and he said Jacob, which meant supplanter.  A name in that time generally had a meaning.  For Jacob, it signified his nature.  Verse twenty-eight concludes, And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.  The angel changed Jacob's name to Israel, signifying that Jacob had wrestled with God and had prevailed.  I know some churches today change a person's name when thay are baptized, or so I have been told, but the significance here was not the name change but the change in Jacob's nature after his encounter with the angel.  Likewise, when we truly meet God, our nature should be changed for the better.  Verse twenty-nine says, And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.  Jacob wanted to know the angel's name, but was told that was unnecessary.  We do not need to know everything when we struggle in our faith, but we just need to accept God's answer when it comes.  Verse thirty states, And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.  Jacob named the place Peniel, meaning that he had seen God face to face and that his life had been spared.  Jacob did not say that he had beaten God, but that God had spared his life.  As followers of Christ, we do not beat God at anything, but are only given the assurance that He will bless us with everlasting life with Him.  Verse thirty-one declares, And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh. After a night of struggling, the morning came, as it always will, even if we find ourselves struggling spiritually.  Verse thirty-two adds, Therefore the children of Israel eat not of the sinew which shrank, which is upon the hollow of the thigh, unto this day: because he touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew that shrank.  Since Jacob had the hollow of his thigh touched, his descendants did not eat of the sinew that shrank, in the animals that they did eat.  If we have spiritual practices today, we need to make sure that they are based on Biblical principles.

Genesis 32:13

Genesis 32:13 says, And he lodged there that same night; and took of that which came to his hand a present for Esau his brother;  Jacob prepared a present for Esau.  Even if Jacob had the birthright, it would do him no good if Esau killed him.  If we have cheated someone, we likewise may have a reason to fear them.  Verse fourteen states, Two hundred she goats, and twenty he goats, two hundred ewes, and twenty rams,  Then verse fifteen adds, Thirty milch camels with their colts, forty kine, and ten bulls, twenty she asses, and ten foals.  Jacob prepared a sizable gift for Esau.  Jacob was still relying more on his own abilities than he was on God's promise.  As followers of Christ, if we have wronged someone today, the first thing we need to do is ask God's forgiveness and then seek His guidance on how to deal with the situation.  Of course, this will probably always involve some kind of restitution.  Verse sixteen states, And he delivered them into the hand of his servants, every drove by themselves; and said unto his servants, Pass over before me, and put a space betwixt drove and drove.  Jacob was sending his servants to deliver the animals, a drove at a time.  Jacob was still more concerned with himself than he was with his servants.  We cannot expect someone else to face the consequences of our sins.  No matter what he did, ultimately Jacob was going to have to face Esau, just as ultimately we have to face the responsibility of our own sins, even though Christ paid the penalty for them.  We cannot just act as though we have no responsibility for them, even though we are forgiven through our faith in Christ.  Verse seventeen declares, And he commanded the foremost, saying, When Esau my brother meeteth thee, and asketh thee, saying, Whose art thou? and whither goest thou? and whose are these before thee?  Then verse eighteen adds, Then thou shalt say, They be thy servant Jacob’s; it is a present sent unto my lord Esau: and, behold, also he is behind us.  Jacob told the servant that when he met Esau, and he asked them who they were, they were to tell Esau that they were a present from his servant Jacob.  Jacob did not claim his superiority because of the birthright, but declared himself a servant of Esau.  If we have wronged someone, we should always go to them in humility and not with an attitude of superiority.  Jacob also told him to tell Esau that he was coming behind them. Verse nineteen adds, And so commanded he the second, and the third, and all that followed the droves, saying, On this manner shall ye speak unto Esau, when ye find him.  Jacob gave the same instructions to the second and third droves.  Jacob may have felt that if Esau was still angry that he would wear his anger down by the continued gifts.  Again Jacob was still relying on his own plans instead of proceeding in faith.  Verse twenty states, And say ye moreover, Behold, thy servant Jacob is behind us. For he said, I will appease him with the present that goeth before me, and afterward I will see his face; peradventure he will accept of me.  Jacob once again told them to tell Esau that Jacob, his servant was behind them.  Jacob still hoped to appease Esau with his gifts.  Jacob was still not relying on God's promise to him, but was attempting to make things right by his own scheme.  As followers of Christ, we must always look to God for direction in all that we do, especially if we have made a mess by our own actions.  Verse twenty-one concludes, So went the present over before him: and himself lodged that night in the company.  Jacob sent the presents, but remained where he was overnight.  He was basically sending his servants to face Esau.  We cannot allow someone else to face the consequences of our sins while we remain safely at a distance.  We could say that this was all dictated by God, but I believe that even as followers of Christ, we still have the free will to act on our own abilities without seeking God's will and relying on Him.

Genesis 32:1

Genesis 32:1 says, And Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.  As Jacob was on his way beck home, he was met by the angels of God.  I don't believe I have ever met an angel, but I am fairly certain that if someone meets one today in a positive way that they like Jacob would need to be on their way to do God's will.  Verse two states, And when Jacob saw them, he said, This is God’s host: and he called the name of that place Mahanaim.  Jacob named the place where he met the angels, who he called God's host.  Verse three declares, And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.  Jacob had been gone for twenty years, and he sent a messenger to Esau to tell him that he was coming home.  Jacob was still afraid that Esau would want to kill Him.  No matter how strained our relationship with our family may become, as followers of Christ, we should always attempt to restore it, especially if we are in the wrong.  Verse four adds, And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now:  Jacob told them to tell Esau where he had been.  Verse five continues, And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.  Jacob told them to tell Esau of his success and his hope that he could find grace in Esau's sight.  Jacob referred to Esau as his Lord.  No matter how successful we may be in the world, we always need the grace of God and must always acknowledge Him as our Lord if we are to be successful in following Him.  Verse six says, And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.  The messengers returned and told Jacob that Esau was coming to meet him with four hundred men.  Verse seven states, Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;  When Jacob heard that Esau was coming with all these men, he was afraid and divided his group into two groups.  I believe that at this point that Jacob had forgotten God's promise and that he was doing what God had directed him to do.  If we encounter what seems to be overwhelming odds today, if we are doing what God has directed us to do, we need not be afraid.  Verse eight adds, And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.  Jacob thought that by dividing his company that if Esau destroyed one maybe the other would survive.  I am not sure how effective this would have been, but it was Jacob's plan and not God's plan.  We need to rely on God's leadership in possible dangerous situations and not own our own understanding.  Verse nine declares, And Jacob said, O God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, the LORD which saidst unto me, Return unto thy country, and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee:  Jacob now calls on God, but he still refers to God as the God of Abraham and Isaac, but he did say that God had directed him to return home.  The fact that God had directed him should have been assurance enough for Jacob, but I believe that Jacob was still lacking that personal relationship with God.  We cannot expect God to be with us and protect us based on the relationship that our parents and grandparents have with Him.  Though He may, until we have that personal relationship with Him, we may doubt that God will truly protect us.  Verse ten adds,
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.  Jacob acknowledged his own unworthiness, as we must when we stand before God.  Verse eleven continues, Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.  After Jacob made his plans, then he called on God for His help.  If we are where God has directed us to be and we encounter opposition, real or imagined, the first thing we should do is call on God.  Verse twelve declares, And thou saidst, I will surely do thee good, and make thy seed as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.  Jacob reminded God of His promise, although he seemed to lack the faith to really live by it.  If we are where God wants us to be, we do not need to remind Him of the promises that He has made to us.  We simply need to act in faith.