Most people, even devout Christians, struggle with issues

about God. We sit in the pew every Sunday and affirm

the essentials of Christianity in theory, but when it comes
to trusting God with our daily lives, we share a secret,
painful fear that God isn't really looking out for us. And
how can we love him if he can't be trusted?


Prayer and meditation
Song of Praise
Reading Genesis 32:24-28

24
Then Jacob was left alone, and a man
(U)
wrestled with him until daybreak.
25

When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his
thigh; so the socket of Jacobs thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him.
26

Then he said, Let me go, for the dawn is breaking. But he said,
(V)
I will not let
you go unless you bless me.
27
So he said to him, What is your name? And he
said, Jacob.
28

(W)
He said, Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but
[n]
Israel; for
you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.
29

Word of Inspiration


Genesis 32:24 "And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a
man with him until the breaking of the day."

This was an interesting statement. How can you be alone and
wrestle with someone at the same time? This man that Jacob wrestled
with had to be a spirit. We heard earlier that angeles had met Jacob
on the road. It was certainly possible that they never left. In fact,
even now, Christians have angels who minister to them daily. At any
rate this man spoken of, here, was either the Spirit of God, or an
angel representing God to Jacob.

Genesis 32:25 "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."

Have you ever been in prayer all night and wrestled with God?
Sometimes, when we need an answer to a prayer, we will keep on
praying, just like Jacob did here, even unto the breaking of day.
The fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. When we pray in
earnest without doubt, our prayers will be answered. Jacob needed God
desperately. He felt that all was lost, Unless God intervened. He just
would not give up. He had to have God's help. This touch would effect
the walk of Jacob. Jacob would never be the same again.

Genesis 32:26 "And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And
he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me."

Again, this was prayer that would not be stopped without an answer
from God.

Genesis 32:27 "And he said unto him, What [is] thy name? And he
said, Jacob."
Genesis 32:28 "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."