And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
Beside the Jabbok in his nightlong wrestling alone till near dawn, Jacob was asked his name and answered honestly with his own name, which means supplanter and recalled his sin of obtaining the birthright and his father's blessing by fraud and deception. The question forced him to state his identity, face his reviewed sinful life, confess his unworthiness and reach honest surrender with no concealed wrong to reveal. His antagonist was Christ, the Angel of the covenant, whom Jacob had supposed an enemy through the night until a touch of divine power on his thigh crippled him at daybreak, when wounded, helpless and penitent he fell upon Christ's breast and clung to Him weeping and pleading for a blessing and assurance of pardon. He prevailed not in his own strength but by humiliation, repentance, self-surrender and steadfast faith that would not let go, and his confessed name recalling sin was changed to Israel, signifying a prince of God having power with God and with men, with evidence that his sins were pardoned and blotted out. That night of anguish represents God's people wrestling in earnest intercession just before Christ's second coming with no unconfessed sins, and it calls every believer now to wrestle alone with God in persistent importunate prayer that refuses to let go without a blessing until victory over self and the powers of darkness is gained.
Night Beside the Jabbok
The verse belongs to Jacob's nightlong wrestling alone till near dawn, pleading for deliverance from Esau and for assurance that his sin was pardoned. That struggle represents the righteous wrestling with God in prayer during their final time of trouble, crying day and night for deliverance, and it stands as the pattern for earnest, persistent prayer for deliverance. Through that night of earnest supplication he received evidence and help that God had pardoned his sins.
After deceiving his father to secure the blessing intended for Esau and fleeing for his life alarmed by his brother's deadly threats, Jacob remained many years an exile, twenty years away, and at God's command set out to return with wives and children and flocks and herds. He was then filled with terror at Esau's approach with warriors bent on revenge while his own company was unarmed and defenseless. Alongside his guilt he remembered God's favor and promises of help and guidance.
With crushing self-reproach Jacob knew his own sin had brought danger and guilt upon himself and peril upon his family, leaving him no defense but God's mercy and prayer. Yet he left nothing undone to atone for the wrong to his brother and avert the threatened danger, endeavoring to make amends after repenting. Burdened by guilt for bringing peril on his family, he was left alone in prayer and wrestled in darkness till near dawn.
During the long night Satan accused Jacob before God's angels claiming the right to destroy him because of his sin, moved Esau to march against him, and pressed a sense of guilt upon him to discourage him and break his hold on God. Driven almost to despair and knowing he must perish without help from Heaven, Jacob sincerely repented, appealed to mercy, would not be turned from his purpose, and held fast with earnest agonizing cries until he prevailed.
Jacob wrestled blindly through the night supposing his antagonist was an enemy, not recognizing God in the One who visited him. He struggled thinking the trouble came from an enemy, and peril of life did not change his purpose to plead. The same failure to recognize God when He comes leaves people destitute of quickening spiritual power, because self and personal feeling judge confessing of sins and cleansing of moral impurities as fanaticism instead of letting the current of the Spirit flow.
Name Asked and Answered
When asked his name in the midst of the struggle, Jacob answered honestly with his own name, identifying himself without evasion. His answer came as he clung humbly for a blessing after being touched and brought to recognize whom he faced, pleading desperately and persisting with all his strength. It showed he had no concealed wrong left to reveal, for he had already repented of his fraud in obtaining the blessing. Like him, those who will stand in trial must be aware of unworthiness yet free from unconfessed and unrepented sin, since deliverance depends on genuine repentance and not on concealing evil or confessing only from fear of punishment and regret over consequences.
The name he confessed, Jacob, means supplanter. It brought his past into view and recalled his sin of obtaining the birthright and his father's blessing, intended for Esau, by fraud and deception. In naming himself he acknowledged the identity bound up with that former wrong, even as his past wrong against Esau was set before him and he pleaded in repentance for a blessing.
The question forced him to state his identity and confess his unworthiness. As he pleaded for deliverance he faced the sinful life he had reviewed and pointed to his repentance, and his past sin did not keep him from seeking mercy but drove him to hold fast in faith until blessing came. His distress and supplication tested and revealed faith, perseverance, and confidence in God's power to deliver. To be asked the name is to be brought to honest surrender, holding the case before the Lord and grasping the promises until victory is gained and self is surrendered, breaking down self-righteousness and freeing the soul from darkness through a thorough work of the Spirit upon the heart.
The confessed name of sin was then changed to Israel in commemoration of victory. Israel signifies a prince of God, one having power with God and with men. The change marked that he had prevailed through humility, repentance, and trust in mercy, and it stands as encouragement for others to imitate his unyielding faith that takes hold and will not let go without the blessing.
Wrestler Revealed as Christ
The Wrestler who held Jacob through the darkness was Christ Himself, the Son of God, the Angel of the covenant. It was with Him that Jacob wrestled all night until the break of day, and that night struggle with the covenant Angel is where crippled helplessness passed into the victory of conquering faith and the title of a prince with God.
When Jacob's strength was nearly spent the Angel put forth divine power in a touch upon his thigh that crippled and wounded him. By that touch at daybreak Jacob knew he had been contending not with an enemy but with the Saviour, the Angel of the covenant revealed through trial. He had struggled blindly through the night supposing his trouble came from an enemy, until the divine touch disclosed God's presence.
Wounded, helpless, penitent and broken, he fell upon Christ's breast and discerned Him as the covenant-keeping God. There he clung weeping and pleading for a blessing and for assurance that his sin was pardoned, and would not be turned aside or cease his intercession. His hold fastened with confidence, firmness and perseverance upon the mercy of a covenant-keeping God, trusting the faithfulness of the covenant with his fathers and the promises given at Bethel and in exile.
Way Jacob Prevailed
Jacob prevailed not by boastful presumption but by humiliation, repentance, self-surrender, persevering determination, and earnest steadfast faith that fastened its trembling grasp upon God's promises and mercy and would not let go. After a night of confessing sin, acknowledging mercy, pleading the covenant with his fathers and the promises given at Bethel and in exile, wrestling in darkness with the Angel of the covenant, being disabled and brought to weeping helplessness yet clinging with confidence, firmness and perseverance and trusting the mercy of a covenant-keeping God, he prevailed through humiliation, repentance and self-surrender. His triumph with God was assurance he would prevail with men, so he no longer feared his brother's anger because the Lord was his defense. His victory is evidence of the power of importunate prayer, for all who lay hold of God's promises as he did and are as earnest and persevering as he was will succeed as he succeeded, while those unwilling to deny self, to agonize before God, and to pray long and earnestly for His blessing will not obtain it.
What he had vainly wrestled for in his own strength was won through self-surrender and steadfast trusting faith, for God's power and grace alone give the blessing. In the great crisis of his life he turned aside to pray with an overmastering purpose to seek transformation of character, and while pleading he wrestled all night for his life with One he supposed an enemy, yet peril of life did not change his purpose. When his strength was nearly spent the Angel put forth divine power in a touch, and by that touch he knew he had been contending with the Saviour, then wounded and helpless he fell upon Christ's breast pleading for a blessing and would not be turned aside or cease intercession. The conflict ended when he renounced cherished sins and stood conqueror, learning that using human skill and deception to secure the blessing was opposing God, and learning simple reliance on God and humble submission to His will.
His repentance was complete so that he had no concealed wrong to reveal, having already repented of his fraud in obtaining the birthright and the blessing. Unconfessed sin would have prevented him from pleading confidently for mercy, and repentance was necessary for God to hear his prayer and preserve his life. Like him, the righteous will face their trial with unyielding faith and earnest determination, aware of their unworthiness but not burdened by unconfessed and unrepented sins, for their sins have already gone before them to judgment and been blotted out. That persistent spirit was inspired by Christ Himself, who gave him the victory, planted the confidence in him and rewarded the faith He had inspired.
His victory shows the power of earnest, persistent prayer: those who cling to God's promises and continue seeking His blessing through weariness, delay, weakness, hunger, hardship and severe trial can prevail as he did. God will not cast off those who were deceived and tempted and betrayed into sin but have returned to Him with true repentance, and while Satan seeks to destroy them God sends His angels to comfort and protect them in the time of peril, His eye upon His people and His ear listening to their cries. Their affliction is great and the flames of the furnace seem about to consume them, but the Refiner will bring them forth as gold tried in the fire, and God's love for His children during their severest trial is as strong and tender as in the days of their sunniest prosperity, for they must be placed in the furnace fire so their earthliness is consumed that the image of Christ may be perfectly reflected. The coming season of distress and anguish will require a faith that can endure weariness, delay and hunger, a faith that will not faint though severely tried, and the period of probation is granted to all to prepare for that time by exercising faith now through determined prayer and perseverance. Wrestling with God is little known, few have their souls drawn out after God with intensity of desire until every power is on the stretch, and few cling with unyielding faith to the promises of God when waves of indescribable despair sweep over the suppliant, while those who exercise little faith now are in greatest danger of falling under delusion and the decree to compel conscience, and even if they endure they will be plunged into deeper distress because they never made it a habit to trust in God and must learn under terrible pressure of discouragement the lessons of faith they neglected.
Blessing and New Name
When asked his name Jacob answered honestly with his own name, confessing who he was with no concealment, and that confessed name recalled his sin as supplanter in obtaining the birthright by fraud and deceiving his father to secure the blessing intended for Esau. The question brought his past into view and forced him to state his identity, review his sinful life, confess unworthiness, acknowledge mercy, plead the covenant with his fathers and the promises given at Bethel and in exile, and reach honest surrender through humiliation, repentance and self-surrender. Through a night of wrestling in darkness with the Angel of the covenant he was disabled and brought to weeping helplessness, yet he clung with confidence, firmness and perseverance, trusting the mercy of a covenant-keeping God and fastening his trembling grasp upon the promises of God. As evidence of that triumph and encouragement for others to imitate his example, his confessed name of sin was changed to one commemorating victory, to Israel, and he received the blessing he sought with his sin as supplanter and deceiver pardoned.
Through that struggle his persevering faith obtained the blessing with evidence and assurance that his sins were pardoned and blotted out. He named himself during the nightlong wrestling with Christ before receiving the name Israel, which signifies a prince of God, and after reviewing his past wrongs and repenting he continued to appeal to God's mercy and hold fast to the Angel pleading for deliverance from Esau until he prevailed. His struggle shows how earnest supplication that will not let go lays hold of mercy until pardon is assured.
The fact that he had prevailed with God was assurance he would prevail with men, so he no longer feared Esau's anger because the Lord was his defense. That blessing prepared him to meet Esau, whose intent to kill him was overcome as God impressed him, for heavenly messengers moved on Esau's heart and changed his purpose of hatred and revenge to fraternal affection. Driven almost to despair and knowing he must perish without help from Heaven, Jacob had sincerely repented of his great sin, appealed to God's mercy, would not be turned from his purpose, and held fast with earnest agonizing cries until he prevailed.
He came forth a different man, changed through faith and prayer from a man of feebleness and sin into a prince with God. Having power over the Angel he prevailed by weeping and making supplication, and there God blessed and forgave him, giving not merely deliverance from his outraged brother but deliverance from himself, breaking the power of evil in his own nature and transforming his character. The struggle marked the end of his self-confidence and craft, for he learned that using human skill and deception to secure the blessing was opposing God, and learned simple reliance on God and humble submission to His will. It proves God does not annul His laws or undo the work of sin but transforms through grace so the curse works out blessing, confirmed when Jacob reviewing his life recognizes the God who fed him all his life and the Angel who redeemed him from all evil, and that same faith and prayer can make men and women of high and holy purpose who will not for any consideration be swayed from truth, right, and justice.
Beside the Jabbok he learned that human help and power could not save him, and helpless and unworthy he relied on God alone and pleaded the promise of mercy to the repentant sinner. That promise assured him that God would pardon and accept him and sustained him through the conflict, and fallen crippled and helpless he in that weakness came to know the victory of conquering faith and received the title of a prince with God. His experience shows that surrender to God does not destroy the will, for God purifies it and joins it in sympathy with the divine, so that weakness becomes strength.
Type of Final Trouble
Jacob's night of anguish beside the Jabbok is the appointed figure of God's people in the time of trouble out of which he shall be saved, wrestling with God in earnest intercession just before Christ's second coming. As Jacob feared Esau's approach after deceiving his father to secure the blessing intended for Esau, fleeing for his life under deadly threats, remaining many years an exile, and then at God's command returning with wives and children and flocks and herds only to meet Esau coming with warriors bent on revenge while his own company was unarmed and defenseless, so Christ's followers approaching the time of trouble must make every exertion to stand in a right light, disarm prejudice, and avert the danger threatening liberty of conscience. With crushing self-reproach Jacob knew his own sin had brought the danger, saw no defense but God's mercy and prayer, yet left nothing undone to atone for the wrong to his brother and avert the threat, and his humble persistent appeal ending in victory and a changed name from a reminder of sin to a memorial of victory shows the outcome set before the righteous. They will cry day and night for deliverance from the wicked surrounding them while appearances give no hope, pleading amid mortal danger when escape appears impossible and help seems delayed until God's appointed time to show His power and deliver them.
Like Jacob they will recognize their unworthiness, remember their sins, humbly repent, and submit fully to God's will praying Thy will be done and asking Him to glorify His name by making a way of escape and bringing salvation by His arm. Jacob's past wrongs and repentance were central to his appeal as he clung to the Angel, wept in supplication, persisted while tested by recalling his past wrongs, acknowledged his wrongs, recalled his sorrow and repentance, and continued to appeal to mercy and promises until he received help, and the righteous in their anguish will likewise be tested until faith, perseverance, and confidence in God's power to deliver are proved. Having repented of obtaining the birthright by fraud, Jacob shows that unconfessed sin would have prevented confident pleading for mercy and that repentance was necessary for God to hear prayer and preserve life, so God's people in the time of trouble have a deep sense of unworthiness but no concealed, unconfessed sins to disclose. Their sins have already gone before them to judgment and been blotted out so they cannot bring them to remembrance, yet they do not know their cases have been decided in the sanctuary above, seeing holy angels guarding them and inferring their sins are pardoned.
The same conflict will be repeated when Satan stirs up the wicked to destroy God's people in the time of trouble and urges his accusations against them. As he accused Jacob before God's angels claiming the right to destroy him because of his sin, moved Esau to march against him, and pressed guilt upon him to discourage him and break his hold on God, so he numbers the world as his subjects while the little company keeping God's commandments resists his supremacy, presents before God with exaggerated light his accurate knowledge of the sins he tempted them to commit, represents them as deserving exclusion from favor just as himself, declares God cannot in justice forgive them yet destroy him and his angels, and claims them as his prey demanding they be given into his hands to destroy. While evil angels crowd around pressing darkness to shut out Jesus, draw eyes to surrounding darkness, and cause distrust of God and murmuring against Him, holy angels having charge over God's people guard, comfort and protect them, continually waft their wings to scatter the thick darkness, and hasten to help everyone struggling with all their energies, resisting evil angels as the suppliants call upon God with perseverance, firmness and great earnestness. Those indifferent and careless who do not share in agonizing and pleading and make no effort to help themselves do not resist the darkness, are shut in as by a thick cloud, and are left by the angels of God.
Their affliction is great and the flames of the furnace seem about to consume them, but they must be placed in the furnace fire so earthliness is consumed that the image of Christ may be perfectly reflected. The Refiner will bring them forth as gold tried in the fire, for God's eye is upon His people and His ear listens to their cries, He sends His angels to comfort and protect them in peril, He will not cast off those deceived and tempted and betrayed into sin but returned to Him with true repentance, and His love for His children during their severest trial is as strong and tender as in days of sunniest prosperity. The coming season of distress and anguish requires a faith that can endure weariness, delay, and hunger and will not faint though severely tried, and the period of probation is granted to all to prepare for that time. Jacob prevailed because he was persevering and determined, and his victory is evidence of the power of importunate prayer, so all who lay hold of God's promises as he did and are as earnest and persevering will succeed as he succeeded, while those unwilling to deny self, to agonize before God, and to pray long and earnestly for His blessing will not obtain it. Wrestling with God is little known, few have souls drawn out after God with intensity of desire until every power is on the stretch, and few cling with unyielding faith to the promises when waves of indescribable despair sweep over the suppliant. Faith able to endure the time of trouble must be exercised now through determined, earnest, persistent prayer and reliance on promises while enduring delay and weakness, for those who exercise little faith now are in greatest danger of falling under satanic delusions and the decree to compel conscience, and even if they endure they will be plunged into deeper distress and anguish because they never made it a habit to trust in God, being forced to learn under terrible pressure of discouragement the lessons of faith they neglected.
The same wrestling beside the lonely stream in utter helplessness prevailing through faith is the pattern for Luther's anguished prayer for the triumph of the gospel, in which like Jacob he prevailed with God and received assurance and peace. That holding fast and prevailing is likewise the pattern for Moses' persistent intercession for Israel. Jacob's coming distress is the pattern for believers in future fear and distress during the closing conflict with the image beast. The experience of Genesis 32:24-30 will be given to God's commandment-keeping people when challenged in the future time of perplexity, trouble, deception and conflict, received by taking hold of Christ's strength and making peace with Him, being of one heart bound up with Christ and with one another and hid with Christ in God in unity under His supervision, keeping them safe unto the end to receive God's mark and the glad tidings of deliverance, enabling them to claim His everlasting covenant of peace, His multiplying and placing of them, His sanctuary and tabernacle in their midst forevermore, and His sanctifying them as His people with Himself as their God.
Call to Wrestle Today
Every believer is called to wrestle with God in earnest, persistent, importunate prayer that holds on through the night until morning and refuses to let go without a blessing and a special manifestation of divine power, continuing until victory is gained over the powers of darkness. That wrestling is persevering prayer that stirs the whole soul, poured out in agony even in helplessness and bodily pain, with living faith giving boldness and persistence to lay hold of unseen power through Jesus Christ. It is the example of unyielding faith that takes hold and will not let go, receiving answer as Jacob received the new name Israel because as a prince he had power with God and with men and had prevailed.
That wrestling is done alone between God and the soul apart from every living mortal, laying open the most secret thing of the soul to One who knows it all in converse with God in prayer. It comes with a broken heart and contrite spirit, building on Christ instead of trusting self and self-effort, humbling oneself under the mighty hand of God without waiting for Him to humble, because life and death are at stake and thorough work for eternity must be made. It is a new and living daily experience of trusting Jesus, believing in Him and confiding everything to Him, moving in step with the Spirit's guidance and holding fast with perseverance, taking time apart for secret prayer to examine self, test the heart, and seek divine aid and moral transformation unto conversion. So a man of feebleness and defects is raised through faith in prayer to be a prince with God, prevailing through faith, since God is omnipotent and man is finite and needs more faith, greater trust and more firm reliance, and this stands opposite remaining in spiritual darkness, living on past experience, neglecting secret prayer, making excuses when reproved, and being satisfied with self and good works.
Secret closet prayer must be earnest and sincere, Jacob-like, pleading with God and refusing to rest content without His blessing and watchfulness. Nothing is allowed to divert the mind from God, but with studying of the Bible and devoting of time to prayer the soul holds on in the closet until strength in God and sweet evidence of pardoned sin are felt. Remaining in prayer awakens unutterable longings for salvation, and so long as watching and praying continue the grace of God appears in the life, bringing freedom in God and whole consecration to Him. That consecration delivers from the snare of seeking sympathy and help from others and from neglect of important duties, and each must so wrestle and pray until victory shall come and triumph in the God of salvation comes, each seeking for himself a deep and living experience in the things of God.
In days of peril such sincere humble prayer is needed from men who will wrestle with God as Jacob did in earnest, persevering, humble prayer and prevail. It ascends to heaven made wholly efficacious because Jesus mingles with lowly petitions the holy incense of His own merit, and through His righteousness the petitioner is accepted. Such prayer avails much, obtains from God the very facilities needed to lift the standard of truth and shine forth its light, and in proportion to earnest humble supplication the Holy Spirit is appointed to meet the need, for God can turn human thoughts and hearts as He turns the waters of the sea.
That wrestling is intercession for others that refuses to give up, wrestling with God in prayer and interceding earnestly for the salvation of those who are perishing. It pleads with tears and faith in God's promises for ministers and for those weak in faith, following laborers in the great harvest-field with prayer like sharp sickles, and for the conversion of relatives, neighbors and backsliders until light, changed hearts, forgiveness and new life come. It upholds God's watchmen that souls may be won to the Saviour, done by men and women individually and as a whole, holding up hands ready to fall, treading sin underfoot, and placing habits, conversation and daily life on the Lord's side out of love for Jesus and the souls He bought with His blood. So continuing importunate in prayer presses petitions at the mercy-seat in deep anguish until it gains its object and finds peace in Christ, giving far richer experience of grace and carrying Christianity into the family with impressions of truth reaching to eternity, while too little prayer, too little real conviction of sin and lack of living faith leave destitute of grace richly provided.
It brings the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, pentecostal seasons even now, and renewed power for service, and when prayer and faith abound it causes a bright steady light to shine forth to the world. Believers must pray three times a day with the same importunate persistence, making deep heart-searching at home the first work of preparation before coming up to holy convocations, for at home is the place to find Jesus through earnest wrestling, and those who find Him there take Him with them to the meeting where hours become precious through felt divine presence and displayed power. This earnest prevailing individual prayer with searching of heart, putting away of sins and correcting of evil tendencies, praying more and talking less, cannot be waited for as a whole-church revival but must be entered upon individually, refusing to be satisfied with a form of godliness without spirit and power. It is humble earnest seeking in self-discipline, putting away selfishness and everything that hinders the Spirit, in order to gain purity and perfection of character and daily practical sanctification until the fruits of the Spirit are seen in the life before one is prepared for Christ's coming, and this wrestling continues until that victory is won, followed by a shout of praise to God.
It is victory over self and the world, for surrendering all of self to God and exercising conquering faith melts the cold iron of self so the love of God is represented, and where that midnight struggle is little known self remains unmelted and the love of God is very feebly represented and God is not present in assemblies. Clinging until God reveals the sinner to himself and reveals Himself brings conversion of the inmost soul by transforming grace, acknowledging deficiencies and praying with faith, humbling the backslider to persistently seek God until mercy is realized. That prevailing requires constant grace and earnest reformation with persevering grasp of the promises, giving boldness and courage, help of divine agencies, strength to resist evil and temptation, a vigorous Christian life, and revealing in Jesus a strength and support, a brightness and power never before sensed and realized, saving the soul in great peril, which is the victory that overcomes the world, even faith.
It joins prayer with work and watching, holding the angel fast as the pattern for holding the Lord fast in giving the warning message to prepare the way of the Lord. Holding fast means clinging to God as efficiency and strength, serving only as His instrument, being converted day by day as a vessel emptied to be filled and to empty the oil of truth into other prepared vessels, refusing to fail or be discouraged, and trusting Him who is righteousness, grace and truth, so that God reveals Himself and will still reveal Himself. It is believing, hoping, praying, working and watching with all diligence, praying and working and working and praying, to hold God's appointed position and to make the school as God would have it, watching before and behind and on every side to permit no man's notions and no injurious influences to find entrance. So conscientious godly wrestlers in life-work maintain a good fight against evil, seek not applause of the people but favor of God, wrestle with the Lord in prayer and then go forth into the work with the inspiration He alone can give, praying and then acting their prayers, remembering they are a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men.
Such prayer lays hold of God for definite needs, holding on until He blesses, breaking the cloud of discouragement and bringing the light and presence of His Spirit. It calls for hours of earnest prayer grasping promises by trembling faith for deliverance from darkness and bondage, for the healing power of God to rest on the sick, and for spiritual and physical strength for the great work ahead, ending in shouting the high praises of God. One in perplexity should go to God with humble believing heart to seek guidance, take God at His Word with simplicity and clinging faith of a child, rest the case with Him and trust in the Lord with all the heart, because heaven and earth will pass before His promise fails and such confidence will never be betrayed, and in discouragement believers may cling and plead until faith is strengthened and darkness lifts. Those seeking to overcome enslaving habit should humbly wrestle with God in prayer and ask others to pray for them, overcoming by praying in faith and trusting that Jesus is touched by infirmities, and Jacob is held up as one to pray in every difficulty seeking God's help and grace and to be taught by Him.
Acquaintance with God comes by proving His promises through earnest communion above selfish gratification, crying after God and coming into close connection with heaven in order to receive abundant rich promises and blessings by asking in faith and showing faith by works. Angels record every sincere prayer, and those who pray as Jacob did, including messengers bearing the last solemn warning, will prevail with God and with men, be accounted princes of Heaven, meet God face to face with life preserved, and need not fear Satan stronger than the mighty God. For in utter helplessness faith can fasten upon God and receive strength and assurance, putting self to death and making Jesus the tower of strength, so believers reach people through God instead of remaining inactive, worldly, barren and unfruitful, and God who gave Jacob special victories liberally supplies all sufficiency to bring cooperating agents off more than conquerors.
Trials that permit the wrestler to realize peril and feel separated by clouds and multiplied enemies, so as not to trust own strength and wisdom or rush presumptuously into danger, can bring benefit by revealing God's presence and preparing for the great work ahead. People should not despise the Lord's chastening or lose heart when He corrects them, for Jacob wrestled blindly until the divine touch at daybreak revealed he had been contending with the Angel of the covenant, and weeping and helpless he clung to Infinite Love and received the blessing he longed for. When heart sinks before combined forces against truth and powers of darkness seem to prevail, the soul fastens helpless upon Christ the mighty deliverer not for personal safety but for success of truth, throwing itself with face upon the earth in anguish of spirit with broken heart-rending cries that only God fully understands. So prevailing, it is strengthened with assurance of not appearing alone, with peace returning to the soul and rejoicing in being permitted to uphold and defend the word of God before rulers of the nation even though called to seal testimony with blood.
Laying the soul before God in surrender as Jacob did and letting His will prevail kindles the taper at the divine altar to be the light of the world. It gives a living connection with God in the heart that leads to sacrifice for those around and to telling of Christ to them because peace cannot be held.
Beside the Jabbok in his nightlong wrestling alone till near dawn, Jacob was asked his name and answered honestly with his own name, which means supplanter and recalled his sin of obtaining the birthright and his father's blessing by fraud and deception. The question forced him to state his identity, face his reviewed sinful life, confess his unworthiness and reach honest surrender with no concealed wrong to reveal. His antagonist was Christ, the Angel of the covenant, whom Jacob had supposed an enemy through the night until a touch of divine power on his thigh crippled him at daybreak, when wounded, helpless and penitent he fell upon Christ's breast and clung to Him weeping and pleading for a blessing and assurance of pardon. He prevailed not in his own strength but by humiliation, repentance, self-surrender and steadfast faith that would not let go, and his confessed name recalling sin was changed to Israel, signifying a prince of God having power with God and with men, with evidence that his sins were pardoned and blotted out. That night of anguish represents God's people wrestling in earnest intercession just before Christ's second coming with no unconfessed sins, and it calls every believer now to wrestle alone with God in persistent importunate prayer that refuses to let go without a blessing until victory over self and the powers of darkness is gained.
Night Beside the Jabbok
The verse belongs to Jacob's nightlong wrestling alone till near dawn, pleading for deliverance from Esau and for assurance that his sin was pardoned. That struggle represents the righteous wrestling with God in prayer during their final time of trouble, crying day and night for deliverance, and it stands as the pattern for earnest, persistent prayer for deliverance. Through that night of earnest supplication he received evidence and help that God had pardoned his sins.
After deceiving his father to secure the blessing intended for Esau and fleeing for his life alarmed by his brother's deadly threats, Jacob remained many years an exile, twenty years away, and at God's command set out to return with wives and children and flocks and herds. He was then filled with terror at Esau's approach with warriors bent on revenge while his own company was unarmed and defenseless. Alongside his guilt he remembered God's favor and promises of help and guidance.
With crushing self-reproach Jacob knew his own sin had brought danger and guilt upon himself and peril upon his family, leaving him no defense but God's mercy and prayer. Yet he left nothing undone to atone for the wrong to his brother and avert the threatened danger, endeavoring to make amends after repenting. Burdened by guilt for bringing peril on his family, he was left alone in prayer and wrestled in darkness till near dawn.
During the long night Satan accused Jacob before God's angels claiming the right to destroy him because of his sin, moved Esau to march against him, and pressed a sense of guilt upon him to discourage him and break his hold on God. Driven almost to despair and knowing he must perish without help from Heaven, Jacob sincerely repented, appealed to mercy, would not be turned from his purpose, and held fast with earnest agonizing cries until he prevailed.
Jacob wrestled blindly through the night supposing his antagonist was an enemy, not recognizing God in the One who visited him. He struggled thinking the trouble came from an enemy, and peril of life did not change his purpose to plead. The same failure to recognize God when He comes leaves people destitute of quickening spiritual power, because self and personal feeling judge confessing of sins and cleansing of moral impurities as fanaticism instead of letting the current of the Spirit flow.
Name Asked and Answered
When asked his name in the midst of the struggle, Jacob answered honestly with his own name, identifying himself without evasion. His answer came as he clung humbly for a blessing after being touched and brought to recognize whom he faced, pleading desperately and persisting with all his strength. It showed he had no concealed wrong left to reveal, for he had already repented of his fraud in obtaining the blessing. Like him, those who will stand in trial must be aware of unworthiness yet free from unconfessed and unrepented sin, since deliverance depends on genuine repentance and not on concealing evil or confessing only from fear of punishment and regret over consequences.
The name he confessed, Jacob, means supplanter. It brought his past into view and recalled his sin of obtaining the birthright and his father's blessing, intended for Esau, by fraud and deception. In naming himself he acknowledged the identity bound up with that former wrong, even as his past wrong against Esau was set before him and he pleaded in repentance for a blessing.
The question forced him to state his identity and confess his unworthiness. As he pleaded for deliverance he faced the sinful life he had reviewed and pointed to his repentance, and his past sin did not keep him from seeking mercy but drove him to hold fast in faith until blessing came. His distress and supplication tested and revealed faith, perseverance, and confidence in God's power to deliver. To be asked the name is to be brought to honest surrender, holding the case before the Lord and grasping the promises until victory is gained and self is surrendered, breaking down self-righteousness and freeing the soul from darkness through a thorough work of the Spirit upon the heart.
The confessed name of sin was then changed to Israel in commemoration of victory. Israel signifies a prince of God, one having power with God and with men. The change marked that he had prevailed through humility, repentance, and trust in mercy, and it stands as encouragement for others to imitate his unyielding faith that takes hold and will not let go without the blessing.
Wrestler Revealed as Christ
The Wrestler who held Jacob through the darkness was Christ Himself, the Son of God, the Angel of the covenant. It was with Him that Jacob wrestled all night until the break of day, and that night struggle with the covenant Angel is where crippled helplessness passed into the victory of conquering faith and the title of a prince with God.
When Jacob's strength was nearly spent the Angel put forth divine power in a touch upon his thigh that crippled and wounded him. By that touch at daybreak Jacob knew he had been contending not with an enemy but with the Saviour, the Angel of the covenant revealed through trial. He had struggled blindly through the night supposing his trouble came from an enemy, until the divine touch disclosed God's presence.
Wounded, helpless, penitent and broken, he fell upon Christ's breast and discerned Him as the covenant-keeping God. There he clung weeping and pleading for a blessing and for assurance that his sin was pardoned, and would not be turned aside or cease his intercession. His hold fastened with confidence, firmness and perseverance upon the mercy of a covenant-keeping God, trusting the faithfulness of the covenant with his fathers and the promises given at Bethel and in exile.
Way Jacob Prevailed
Jacob prevailed not by boastful presumption but by humiliation, repentance, self-surrender, persevering determination, and earnest steadfast faith that fastened its trembling grasp upon God's promises and mercy and would not let go. After a night of confessing sin, acknowledging mercy, pleading the covenant with his fathers and the promises given at Bethel and in exile, wrestling in darkness with the Angel of the covenant, being disabled and brought to weeping helplessness yet clinging with confidence, firmness and perseverance and trusting the mercy of a covenant-keeping God, he prevailed through humiliation, repentance and self-surrender. His triumph with God was assurance he would prevail with men, so he no longer feared his brother's anger because the Lord was his defense. His victory is evidence of the power of importunate prayer, for all who lay hold of God's promises as he did and are as earnest and persevering as he was will succeed as he succeeded, while those unwilling to deny self, to agonize before God, and to pray long and earnestly for His blessing will not obtain it.
What he had vainly wrestled for in his own strength was won through self-surrender and steadfast trusting faith, for God's power and grace alone give the blessing. In the great crisis of his life he turned aside to pray with an overmastering purpose to seek transformation of character, and while pleading he wrestled all night for his life with One he supposed an enemy, yet peril of life did not change his purpose. When his strength was nearly spent the Angel put forth divine power in a touch, and by that touch he knew he had been contending with the Saviour, then wounded and helpless he fell upon Christ's breast pleading for a blessing and would not be turned aside or cease intercession. The conflict ended when he renounced cherished sins and stood conqueror, learning that using human skill and deception to secure the blessing was opposing God, and learning simple reliance on God and humble submission to His will.
His repentance was complete so that he had no concealed wrong to reveal, having already repented of his fraud in obtaining the birthright and the blessing. Unconfessed sin would have prevented him from pleading confidently for mercy, and repentance was necessary for God to hear his prayer and preserve his life. Like him, the righteous will face their trial with unyielding faith and earnest determination, aware of their unworthiness but not burdened by unconfessed and unrepented sins, for their sins have already gone before them to judgment and been blotted out. That persistent spirit was inspired by Christ Himself, who gave him the victory, planted the confidence in him and rewarded the faith He had inspired.
His victory shows the power of earnest, persistent prayer: those who cling to God's promises and continue seeking His blessing through weariness, delay, weakness, hunger, hardship and severe trial can prevail as he did. God will not cast off those who were deceived and tempted and betrayed into sin but have returned to Him with true repentance, and while Satan seeks to destroy them God sends His angels to comfort and protect them in the time of peril, His eye upon His people and His ear listening to their cries. Their affliction is great and the flames of the furnace seem about to consume them, but the Refiner will bring them forth as gold tried in the fire, and God's love for His children during their severest trial is as strong and tender as in the days of their sunniest prosperity, for they must be placed in the furnace fire so their earthliness is consumed that the image of Christ may be perfectly reflected. The coming season of distress and anguish will require a faith that can endure weariness, delay and hunger, a faith that will not faint though severely tried, and the period of probation is granted to all to prepare for that time by exercising faith now through determined prayer and perseverance. Wrestling with God is little known, few have their souls drawn out after God with intensity of desire until every power is on the stretch, and few cling with unyielding faith to the promises of God when waves of indescribable despair sweep over the suppliant, while those who exercise little faith now are in greatest danger of falling under delusion and the decree to compel conscience, and even if they endure they will be plunged into deeper distress because they never made it a habit to trust in God and must learn under terrible pressure of discouragement the lessons of faith they neglected.
Blessing and New Name
When asked his name Jacob answered honestly with his own name, confessing who he was with no concealment, and that confessed name recalled his sin as supplanter in obtaining the birthright by fraud and deceiving his father to secure the blessing intended for Esau. The question brought his past into view and forced him to state his identity, review his sinful life, confess unworthiness, acknowledge mercy, plead the covenant with his fathers and the promises given at Bethel and in exile, and reach honest surrender through humiliation, repentance and self-surrender. Through a night of wrestling in darkness with the Angel of the covenant he was disabled and brought to weeping helplessness, yet he clung with confidence, firmness and perseverance, trusting the mercy of a covenant-keeping God and fastening his trembling grasp upon the promises of God. As evidence of that triumph and encouragement for others to imitate his example, his confessed name of sin was changed to one commemorating victory, to Israel, and he received the blessing he sought with his sin as supplanter and deceiver pardoned.
Through that struggle his persevering faith obtained the blessing with evidence and assurance that his sins were pardoned and blotted out. He named himself during the nightlong wrestling with Christ before receiving the name Israel, which signifies a prince of God, and after reviewing his past wrongs and repenting he continued to appeal to God's mercy and hold fast to the Angel pleading for deliverance from Esau until he prevailed. His struggle shows how earnest supplication that will not let go lays hold of mercy until pardon is assured.
The fact that he had prevailed with God was assurance he would prevail with men, so he no longer feared Esau's anger because the Lord was his defense. That blessing prepared him to meet Esau, whose intent to kill him was overcome as God impressed him, for heavenly messengers moved on Esau's heart and changed his purpose of hatred and revenge to fraternal affection. Driven almost to despair and knowing he must perish without help from Heaven, Jacob had sincerely repented of his great sin, appealed to God's mercy, would not be turned from his purpose, and held fast with earnest agonizing cries until he prevailed.
He came forth a different man, changed through faith and prayer from a man of feebleness and sin into a prince with God. Having power over the Angel he prevailed by weeping and making supplication, and there God blessed and forgave him, giving not merely deliverance from his outraged brother but deliverance from himself, breaking the power of evil in his own nature and transforming his character. The struggle marked the end of his self-confidence and craft, for he learned that using human skill and deception to secure the blessing was opposing God, and learned simple reliance on God and humble submission to His will. It proves God does not annul His laws or undo the work of sin but transforms through grace so the curse works out blessing, confirmed when Jacob reviewing his life recognizes the God who fed him all his life and the Angel who redeemed him from all evil, and that same faith and prayer can make men and women of high and holy purpose who will not for any consideration be swayed from truth, right, and justice.
Beside the Jabbok he learned that human help and power could not save him, and helpless and unworthy he relied on God alone and pleaded the promise of mercy to the repentant sinner. That promise assured him that God would pardon and accept him and sustained him through the conflict, and fallen crippled and helpless he in that weakness came to know the victory of conquering faith and received the title of a prince with God. His experience shows that surrender to God does not destroy the will, for God purifies it and joins it in sympathy with the divine, so that weakness becomes strength.
Type of Final Trouble
Jacob's night of anguish beside the Jabbok is the appointed figure of God's people in the time of trouble out of which he shall be saved, wrestling with God in earnest intercession just before Christ's second coming. As Jacob feared Esau's approach after deceiving his father to secure the blessing intended for Esau, fleeing for his life under deadly threats, remaining many years an exile, and then at God's command returning with wives and children and flocks and herds only to meet Esau coming with warriors bent on revenge while his own company was unarmed and defenseless, so Christ's followers approaching the time of trouble must make every exertion to stand in a right light, disarm prejudice, and avert the danger threatening liberty of conscience. With crushing self-reproach Jacob knew his own sin had brought the danger, saw no defense but God's mercy and prayer, yet left nothing undone to atone for the wrong to his brother and avert the threat, and his humble persistent appeal ending in victory and a changed name from a reminder of sin to a memorial of victory shows the outcome set before the righteous. They will cry day and night for deliverance from the wicked surrounding them while appearances give no hope, pleading amid mortal danger when escape appears impossible and help seems delayed until God's appointed time to show His power and deliver them.
Like Jacob they will recognize their unworthiness, remember their sins, humbly repent, and submit fully to God's will praying Thy will be done and asking Him to glorify His name by making a way of escape and bringing salvation by His arm. Jacob's past wrongs and repentance were central to his appeal as he clung to the Angel, wept in supplication, persisted while tested by recalling his past wrongs, acknowledged his wrongs, recalled his sorrow and repentance, and continued to appeal to mercy and promises until he received help, and the righteous in their anguish will likewise be tested until faith, perseverance, and confidence in God's power to deliver are proved. Having repented of obtaining the birthright by fraud, Jacob shows that unconfessed sin would have prevented confident pleading for mercy and that repentance was necessary for God to hear prayer and preserve life, so God's people in the time of trouble have a deep sense of unworthiness but no concealed, unconfessed sins to disclose. Their sins have already gone before them to judgment and been blotted out so they cannot bring them to remembrance, yet they do not know their cases have been decided in the sanctuary above, seeing holy angels guarding them and inferring their sins are pardoned.
The same conflict will be repeated when Satan stirs up the wicked to destroy God's people in the time of trouble and urges his accusations against them. As he accused Jacob before God's angels claiming the right to destroy him because of his sin, moved Esau to march against him, and pressed guilt upon him to discourage him and break his hold on God, so he numbers the world as his subjects while the little company keeping God's commandments resists his supremacy, presents before God with exaggerated light his accurate knowledge of the sins he tempted them to commit, represents them as deserving exclusion from favor just as himself, declares God cannot in justice forgive them yet destroy him and his angels, and claims them as his prey demanding they be given into his hands to destroy. While evil angels crowd around pressing darkness to shut out Jesus, draw eyes to surrounding darkness, and cause distrust of God and murmuring against Him, holy angels having charge over God's people guard, comfort and protect them, continually waft their wings to scatter the thick darkness, and hasten to help everyone struggling with all their energies, resisting evil angels as the suppliants call upon God with perseverance, firmness and great earnestness. Those indifferent and careless who do not share in agonizing and pleading and make no effort to help themselves do not resist the darkness, are shut in as by a thick cloud, and are left by the angels of God.
Their affliction is great and the flames of the furnace seem about to consume them, but they must be placed in the furnace fire so earthliness is consumed that the image of Christ may be perfectly reflected. The Refiner will bring them forth as gold tried in the fire, for God's eye is upon His people and His ear listens to their cries, He sends His angels to comfort and protect them in peril, He will not cast off those deceived and tempted and betrayed into sin but returned to Him with true repentance, and His love for His children during their severest trial is as strong and tender as in days of sunniest prosperity. The coming season of distress and anguish requires a faith that can endure weariness, delay, and hunger and will not faint though severely tried, and the period of probation is granted to all to prepare for that time. Jacob prevailed because he was persevering and determined, and his victory is evidence of the power of importunate prayer, so all who lay hold of God's promises as he did and are as earnest and persevering will succeed as he succeeded, while those unwilling to deny self, to agonize before God, and to pray long and earnestly for His blessing will not obtain it. Wrestling with God is little known, few have souls drawn out after God with intensity of desire until every power is on the stretch, and few cling with unyielding faith to the promises when waves of indescribable despair sweep over the suppliant. Faith able to endure the time of trouble must be exercised now through determined, earnest, persistent prayer and reliance on promises while enduring delay and weakness, for those who exercise little faith now are in greatest danger of falling under satanic delusions and the decree to compel conscience, and even if they endure they will be plunged into deeper distress and anguish because they never made it a habit to trust in God, being forced to learn under terrible pressure of discouragement the lessons of faith they neglected.
The same wrestling beside the lonely stream in utter helplessness prevailing through faith is the pattern for Luther's anguished prayer for the triumph of the gospel, in which like Jacob he prevailed with God and received assurance and peace. That holding fast and prevailing is likewise the pattern for Moses' persistent intercession for Israel. Jacob's coming distress is the pattern for believers in future fear and distress during the closing conflict with the image beast. The experience of Genesis 32:24-30 will be given to God's commandment-keeping people when challenged in the future time of perplexity, trouble, deception and conflict, received by taking hold of Christ's strength and making peace with Him, being of one heart bound up with Christ and with one another and hid with Christ in God in unity under His supervision, keeping them safe unto the end to receive God's mark and the glad tidings of deliverance, enabling them to claim His everlasting covenant of peace, His multiplying and placing of them, His sanctuary and tabernacle in their midst forevermore, and His sanctifying them as His people with Himself as their God.
Call to Wrestle Today
Every believer is called to wrestle with God in earnest, persistent, importunate prayer that holds on through the night until morning and refuses to let go without a blessing and a special manifestation of divine power, continuing until victory is gained over the powers of darkness. That wrestling is persevering prayer that stirs the whole soul, poured out in agony even in helplessness and bodily pain, with living faith giving boldness and persistence to lay hold of unseen power through Jesus Christ. It is the example of unyielding faith that takes hold and will not let go, receiving answer as Jacob received the new name Israel because as a prince he had power with God and with men and had prevailed.
That wrestling is done alone between God and the soul apart from every living mortal, laying open the most secret thing of the soul to One who knows it all in converse with God in prayer. It comes with a broken heart and contrite spirit, building on Christ instead of trusting self and self-effort, humbling oneself under the mighty hand of God without waiting for Him to humble, because life and death are at stake and thorough work for eternity must be made. It is a new and living daily experience of trusting Jesus, believing in Him and confiding everything to Him, moving in step with the Spirit's guidance and holding fast with perseverance, taking time apart for secret prayer to examine self, test the heart, and seek divine aid and moral transformation unto conversion. So a man of feebleness and defects is raised through faith in prayer to be a prince with God, prevailing through faith, since God is omnipotent and man is finite and needs more faith, greater trust and more firm reliance, and this stands opposite remaining in spiritual darkness, living on past experience, neglecting secret prayer, making excuses when reproved, and being satisfied with self and good works.
Secret closet prayer must be earnest and sincere, Jacob-like, pleading with God and refusing to rest content without His blessing and watchfulness. Nothing is allowed to divert the mind from God, but with studying of the Bible and devoting of time to prayer the soul holds on in the closet until strength in God and sweet evidence of pardoned sin are felt. Remaining in prayer awakens unutterable longings for salvation, and so long as watching and praying continue the grace of God appears in the life, bringing freedom in God and whole consecration to Him. That consecration delivers from the snare of seeking sympathy and help from others and from neglect of important duties, and each must so wrestle and pray until victory shall come and triumph in the God of salvation comes, each seeking for himself a deep and living experience in the things of God.
In days of peril such sincere humble prayer is needed from men who will wrestle with God as Jacob did in earnest, persevering, humble prayer and prevail. It ascends to heaven made wholly efficacious because Jesus mingles with lowly petitions the holy incense of His own merit, and through His righteousness the petitioner is accepted. Such prayer avails much, obtains from God the very facilities needed to lift the standard of truth and shine forth its light, and in proportion to earnest humble supplication the Holy Spirit is appointed to meet the need, for God can turn human thoughts and hearts as He turns the waters of the sea.
That wrestling is intercession for others that refuses to give up, wrestling with God in prayer and interceding earnestly for the salvation of those who are perishing. It pleads with tears and faith in God's promises for ministers and for those weak in faith, following laborers in the great harvest-field with prayer like sharp sickles, and for the conversion of relatives, neighbors and backsliders until light, changed hearts, forgiveness and new life come. It upholds God's watchmen that souls may be won to the Saviour, done by men and women individually and as a whole, holding up hands ready to fall, treading sin underfoot, and placing habits, conversation and daily life on the Lord's side out of love for Jesus and the souls He bought with His blood. So continuing importunate in prayer presses petitions at the mercy-seat in deep anguish until it gains its object and finds peace in Christ, giving far richer experience of grace and carrying Christianity into the family with impressions of truth reaching to eternity, while too little prayer, too little real conviction of sin and lack of living faith leave destitute of grace richly provided.
It brings the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, pentecostal seasons even now, and renewed power for service, and when prayer and faith abound it causes a bright steady light to shine forth to the world. Believers must pray three times a day with the same importunate persistence, making deep heart-searching at home the first work of preparation before coming up to holy convocations, for at home is the place to find Jesus through earnest wrestling, and those who find Him there take Him with them to the meeting where hours become precious through felt divine presence and displayed power. This earnest prevailing individual prayer with searching of heart, putting away of sins and correcting of evil tendencies, praying more and talking less, cannot be waited for as a whole-church revival but must be entered upon individually, refusing to be satisfied with a form of godliness without spirit and power. It is humble earnest seeking in self-discipline, putting away selfishness and everything that hinders the Spirit, in order to gain purity and perfection of character and daily practical sanctification until the fruits of the Spirit are seen in the life before one is prepared for Christ's coming, and this wrestling continues until that victory is won, followed by a shout of praise to God.
It is victory over self and the world, for surrendering all of self to God and exercising conquering faith melts the cold iron of self so the love of God is represented, and where that midnight struggle is little known self remains unmelted and the love of God is very feebly represented and God is not present in assemblies. Clinging until God reveals the sinner to himself and reveals Himself brings conversion of the inmost soul by transforming grace, acknowledging deficiencies and praying with faith, humbling the backslider to persistently seek God until mercy is realized. That prevailing requires constant grace and earnest reformation with persevering grasp of the promises, giving boldness and courage, help of divine agencies, strength to resist evil and temptation, a vigorous Christian life, and revealing in Jesus a strength and support, a brightness and power never before sensed and realized, saving the soul in great peril, which is the victory that overcomes the world, even faith.
It joins prayer with work and watching, holding the angel fast as the pattern for holding the Lord fast in giving the warning message to prepare the way of the Lord. Holding fast means clinging to God as efficiency and strength, serving only as His instrument, being converted day by day as a vessel emptied to be filled and to empty the oil of truth into other prepared vessels, refusing to fail or be discouraged, and trusting Him who is righteousness, grace and truth, so that God reveals Himself and will still reveal Himself. It is believing, hoping, praying, working and watching with all diligence, praying and working and working and praying, to hold God's appointed position and to make the school as God would have it, watching before and behind and on every side to permit no man's notions and no injurious influences to find entrance. So conscientious godly wrestlers in life-work maintain a good fight against evil, seek not applause of the people but favor of God, wrestle with the Lord in prayer and then go forth into the work with the inspiration He alone can give, praying and then acting their prayers, remembering they are a spectacle to the world, to angels and to men.
Such prayer lays hold of God for definite needs, holding on until He blesses, breaking the cloud of discouragement and bringing the light and presence of His Spirit. It calls for hours of earnest prayer grasping promises by trembling faith for deliverance from darkness and bondage, for the healing power of God to rest on the sick, and for spiritual and physical strength for the great work ahead, ending in shouting the high praises of God. One in perplexity should go to God with humble believing heart to seek guidance, take God at His Word with simplicity and clinging faith of a child, rest the case with Him and trust in the Lord with all the heart, because heaven and earth will pass before His promise fails and such confidence will never be betrayed, and in discouragement believers may cling and plead until faith is strengthened and darkness lifts. Those seeking to overcome enslaving habit should humbly wrestle with God in prayer and ask others to pray for them, overcoming by praying in faith and trusting that Jesus is touched by infirmities, and Jacob is held up as one to pray in every difficulty seeking God's help and grace and to be taught by Him.
Acquaintance with God comes by proving His promises through earnest communion above selfish gratification, crying after God and coming into close connection with heaven in order to receive abundant rich promises and blessings by asking in faith and showing faith by works. Angels record every sincere prayer, and those who pray as Jacob did, including messengers bearing the last solemn warning, will prevail with God and with men, be accounted princes of Heaven, meet God face to face with life preserved, and need not fear Satan stronger than the mighty God. For in utter helplessness faith can fasten upon God and receive strength and assurance, putting self to death and making Jesus the tower of strength, so believers reach people through God instead of remaining inactive, worldly, barren and unfruitful, and God who gave Jacob special victories liberally supplies all sufficiency to bring cooperating agents off more than conquerors.
Trials that permit the wrestler to realize peril and feel separated by clouds and multiplied enemies, so as not to trust own strength and wisdom or rush presumptuously into danger, can bring benefit by revealing God's presence and preparing for the great work ahead. People should not despise the Lord's chastening or lose heart when He corrects them, for Jacob wrestled blindly until the divine touch at daybreak revealed he had been contending with the Angel of the covenant, and weeping and helpless he clung to Infinite Love and received the blessing he longed for. When heart sinks before combined forces against truth and powers of darkness seem to prevail, the soul fastens helpless upon Christ the mighty deliverer not for personal safety but for success of truth, throwing itself with face upon the earth in anguish of spirit with broken heart-rending cries that only God fully understands. So prevailing, it is strengthened with assurance of not appearing alone, with peace returning to the soul and rejoicing in being permitted to uphold and defend the word of God before rulers of the nation even though called to seal testimony with blood.
Laying the soul before God in surrender as Jacob did and letting His will prevail kindles the taper at the divine altar to be the light of the world. It gives a living connection with God in the heart that leads to sacrifice for those around and to telling of Christ to them because peace cannot be held.