How Have You Let God Prevail in Your Life?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Genesis 24-33 in a lesson titled “Let God Prevail.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

How do you secure for yourself a blessing from God? You might say that the account of Jacob, grandson of Abraham and Sarah, is the story of a man who learned the answer to that question. In a culture where the firstborn son received a birthright blessing, Jacob was born second, grasping the heel of his twin brother, Esau. The name “Jacob” means “supplanter”—one who replaces someone else. Jacob lived up to that name by trying, more than once, to supplant Esau as inheritor of the birthright blessing because Esau was unworthy of it (see Genesis 25:30-34; 26:34-35; 27:36). The result was discord in the family, and Jacob had to flee for his life into the wilderness.

Years later, God commanded Jacob to return home. On the way, Jacob, in humility, again sought a blessing from God. The scriptures describe this time as a “wrestle” for Jacob, and he declared that he would not give up “except thou bless me” (Genesis 32:26). Then came the lesson—and the blessing. God changed Jacob’s name to Israel—meaning, among other things, “let God prevail.” Israel learned that to receive God’s most valuable blessings, His covenant blessings, it’s not necessary to supplant someone else. His blessings aren’t purchased or seized or won. He gives them freely to all who live up to the name of Israel—who let God prevail in their lives.

The scripture block teaches numerous lessons, including the following: (1) Covenant marriage is essential to God’s eternal plan (Genesis 24); (2) I can value eternal things over temporal things (Genesis 25:29-34); (3) The covenants of the Lord’s house bring God’s power into my life (Genesis 28); (4) The Lord remembers me in my trials (Genesis 29:31-35; 30:1-24); (5) The Savior can heal my family (Genesis 32-33). This essay will discuss principle #5.

The story of Jacob and Esau is a story of forgiveness. Esau was the elder son who should have received the birthright. However, he sold his birthright to Jacob for a pot of porridge. Then their father Isaac confirmed with a priesthood blessing that the birthright belonged to Jacob.

The mother, Rebekkah, was afraid that Esau would kill Jacob, so she sent Jacob to live with her brother a long distance away. Jacob was there for at least fourteen years. Through some “palace intrigue” Jacob first married Leah, the older sister, and later married Rachel, the woman that he loved. Leah had lots of children, but Rachel did not have any. Therefore, Rachel gave her handmaid to Jacob as a wife to bear children for her. Then Leah gave her concubine to Jacob. Therefore, Jacob had four wives, twelve sons, and at least one daughter when he returned to Canaan. However, he was fearful of his brother Esau.

Jacob planned to give many animals to Esau to placate him, but he discovered that Esau was already a rich man and had forgiven his brother. The two men and their families lived in peace.

After telling the story of Jesus Christ healing the daughter of Jairus, President Howard W. Hunter taught the following. 

“And [Jairus] besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death.” This is typical of what happens frequently when a man comes to Christ, not so much for his own need, but because of the desperate need of a loved one. The tremor we hear in Jairus’s voice as he speaks of “My little daughter” stirs our souls with sympathy as we think of this man of high position in the synagogue on his knees before the Savior.

Then comes a great acknowledgement of faith: “I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.” These are not only the words of faith of a father torn with grief but are also a reminder to us that whatever Jesus lays his hands upon lives. If Jesus lays his hands upon a marriage, it lives. If he is allowed to lay his hands on the family, it lives. (Emphasis added.)