Power with God by Uriah Smith

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Aug 26, 1902

Power with God

By Uriah Smith

“AND he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God, . . . and hast prevailed.” Gen. 32:28. These words were addressed to Jacob, when standing as a representative of the people of God in the earth. Jacob is represented as having the quiet virtues of resignation, patience, and caution; but there are not attributed to him that spirit, vigorous temper, and fire that would generally entitle him to the character of a “prince.” This title he derives from having “power with God.” This is a sublime attainment; for it leads to the attainment of every other kind of power. Hence it is no wonder that, after the declaration, “As a prince hast thou power with God,” it is at once added, “and with men.” When Jacob had prevailed with God, he had no reason to fear Esau; nor, if we have power with God, have we reason to fear the power or the forces of darkness in whatever form they may come.

The patience of Jacob was one of his princely virtues. We sometimes think of patience as the characteristic of a weak, feeble, and infirm person; and not by any means as being the characteristic of a prince. But Jacob was a prince because of his power with God; and one of the things that commended him to God was his patience. A great prime minister of England was once asked what was the most important virtue of a prime minister, and his ready response was, “The first is patience; and the second is patience; and the third is patience.” As we read this, we think of the final characteristic of the last church on earth: “Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.”

Hopefulness was another of Jacob’s regal virtues. And here are words which are applicable to the last church: “Prisoners of hope;” and the promise to give them, “a double portion” of the

blessings of the gospel was made to them. Zech. 9:12.

But it was in prayer especially that Jacob showed himself to be a prince with God. Read all the triumphs of faith recorded of the ancient worthies, in the eleventh of Hebrews. But in the case of Jacob, his twofold name exhibits before us the paradox of the contradictions of his nature. The life of Jacob was made up of most marvelous diversities. He was the hero of faith, but also the quick-witted schemer. To him the heavens were opened, and he beheld a ladder, and the angels of God ascending and descending on it (on the Son of man). See “Desire of Ages,” page 311. Gen. 28:12.

But his wisdom passes into the wisdom which is of the earth, earthy. The character of Jacob is a type of that which is found among the Gentiles no less than among the Jews. There are in our own day “prudential vices,” marring what would otherwise be worthy of all praise. And what makes them most formidable is that they are temptations of the religious temperament. The man who begins to look upon worldlings with the feeling that he can thank God that he is not like them, or like other men, is in a fair way to fall short of even the excellences which they possess. But fortunately the religious temperament, with all its faults, may pass into the matured holiness of him who is not religious only, but godly.

This power with God cannot consist of physical force. “Hast thou an arm like God?” Job 40:9. It cannot be mental energy. “Declare, if thou hast understanding.” Job 38:4. It cannot be the power of magic. He “maketh diviners mad.” Isa. 44:25. “Use not vain repetitions.” Matt. 6:7. It cannot be meritorious. “If thou be righteous, what givest thou him?” Job 35:7. This prevailing power proceeds from God’s goodness, and his tenderness at sight of our sorrow and weakness. A soldier was about to slay a child; but his weapon was stayed when the little one looked up, and cried out, “Don’t kill me, I am so little.” It springs from the relationship of grace. “Like as a father pitieth his children, so the Lord pitieth them that fear him.” Ps. 103:13. It can be exercised only through faith in the Lord. “He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also.” John 14:12. Faith is the prevailing grace.

“It treads on the world, and on hell; It vanquishes death and despair; And what is still stranger to tell, It overcomes heaven by prayer.”

Faith must be exercised in accordance with God’s will. “If any man . . . doeth his will, him he [God] heareth.” John 9:31. There must be a fixed resolve. “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” Gen. 32:26. The whole heart must be poured out. “Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed: he wept, and made supplication unto him.” Hosea 12:4. This power is the successful means of winning souls to Jesus. “Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” Ps. 51:13. This shows that men who have power with God for men, will have power with men for God. What, then, shall be the fate of them who not only have no power with God, but even lift their puny arms to war and fight against him? U. S.