Jacob, wrestling with God!

[Ian Gentles]

In Geneses 32:22-32 We have the story of Jacob wrestling with God. Interesting thing is, God limits His power to be equal with the man, whereas He could have crushed him. In end Jacob prevails and receives a blessing from God as the day breaks.
This is a very inspiring story, but how far can it be taken in using it as an example for prayer? There seems very little of what we have come to know as prayer in this story, but yet it is God and a man wrestling as the mans seeks a blessing, though as we see God initiated the whole event. So some questions if i may?
1 Is it God Who takes the initiative in causing us to seek, wrestle, for blessings?
2 Can we actually prevail with God, seemingly against His wishes? God certainly seems to have wanted to leave Jacob as the dawn broke, but Jacob held on!
3 How far can this story be used to illustrate prevailing prayer, is there such a thing? Can we actually prevail with God?
4 Does God really listen, consider our wishes and petitions? Can i, really be listened to by God, can i change His intentions?

[Anne and Dwayne Hood]

We wrestle with God, at times. I know that I have. I hate to admit it, but once, I finally said, "Well, go ahead, and have your way. You're going to anyway." Then, why is he blessing us so mcuh, and has tken us on as some of His choice children? He knows our frame, and knows that we are but dust, or maybe a "rib."

He knows that we may be struggling, but also knows, what our final decision will be--Your will Lord, your will. But, we have to go through these struggles, to grow, and learn how to listen for His voice and biddings. Would we rather do it this way, or feel most of the time, that He is very far away. Have your ever had a rebellious child? How did they eventually turn out? Now, I know that we don't untimately win all of the races. It may depend on how we react to them. But, just as we struggle, and stretch our wings, trying to find our way spiritrualy, they struggle too, trying to find out about life, and what they should be doing, until our prayers are answered, and God turns them into a person, "that acts like they have good sense." Do you hear me now?