January 21, 1999, Thursday

What is the trait that is so important that makes one

able to prevail with God? Does God really provide the

happy ending and outcome for those who ask Him? Is there

danger in pursuing God so strongly to get your request?

The Scripture tells us that Jacob received a blessing for

God was so convinced that he was serious. God had to

strike him to make him release Him. God's mind changed-

"But when the man (the Angel of the Lord) saw that He

was not able to overcome Jacob, He gave him a blow in

the hollow part of his leg, so that his leg was badly

damaged" (Gen 32:25). As God's mind was changed about

Jacob, God changed Jacob's nature and name because he

wrestled with God and was not able to overcome the strong

prevailing prayer of Jacob.

Jacob's sons called on the grace and mercy of God to

find favor with Joseph after the death of their father-

"You are to say to Joseph, Let the wrongdoing of your

brothers be overlooked, and the evil they did to you:

now, if it is your pleasure, let the sin of the servants

of your father's God have forgiveness. And with these

words, Joseph was overcome with weeping". Just as Jacob

had found grace, mercy, and good favor with Esau after

so many years of estrangement, Joseph's brothers were

able to find restoration. Joseph responded graciously--

"As for you, it was in your mind to do me evil, but God

has given a happy outcome, the salvation of numbers of

people, as you see today" (Gen 50:17,20).

Those without Christ are often afraid to wrestle with God

to prevail in prayer because they don't want to understand-

"But if it is of God, you will not be able to overcome

them, and you will be in danger of fighting against God"

(Acts 5:39). What these individuals fail to understand is

that if one can prevail with God, he will overcome all

that comes against him, because God is his Captain. The

real danger is choosing not to wrestle with God. If one is

searching for strength to overcome, searching for Someone

to overlook their faults, and searching for that happy

outcome; then the simple answer is to begin that night of

prevailing prayer and wrestle with God.

Let us remember the God that is our Captain. God's Name

is Jehová Sabaoth. He is the God who is the Captain and

Lord of The Hosts of Heaven. He is the Mighty Conqueror

over all of His enemies. He is mighty in battle and able to

lead His Host to victory. Lift your hands to Him and Praise

Him today for the fact that He is the God who is our Captain

that leads us to our victory!