Jacob, in the great crisis of his life, turned aside to pray. He was filled with one overmastering purpose--to seek for transformation of character. But while he was pleading with God, an enemy, as he supposed, placed his hand upon him, and all night he wrestled for his life. But the purpose of his soul was not changed by peril of life itself. When his strength was nearly spent, the Angel put forth His divine power, and at His touch Jacob knew Him with whom he had been contending. Wounded and helpless, he fell upon the Saviour's breast, pleading for a blessing. He would not be turned aside nor cease his intercession, and Christ granted the petition of this helpless, penitent soul, according to His promise, "Let him take hold of My strength, that he may make peace with Me; and he shall make peace with Me." Isaiah 27:5. Jacob pleaded with determined spirit, "I will not let Thee go, except Thou bless me." Genesis 32:26. This spirit of persistence was inspired by Him who wrestled with the patriarch. It was He who gave him the victory, and He changed his name from Jacob to Israel, saying, "As a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed." Genesis 32:28. That for which Jacob had vainly wrestled in his own strength was won through self-surrender and steadfast faith. "This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith." 1 John 5:4. 145

I sit livs støre krisestund trådte Jakob afsides for at bede. Han var opfyldt af ét altopslugende forsæt: at søge en karakterforvandling. Men medens han bad til Gud, mærkede han, at en, som han antog for at være en fjende, lagde sin hånd på ham, og hele natten kæmpede han for sit liv. Den fare, hvori hans eget liv svævede, forandrede dog ikke hans hjertes forsæt. Da hans kraft næsten var udtømt, gjorde engelen brug af sin guddommelige magt, og ved denne berøring blev Jakob klar over, hvem han havde kæmpet med. Såret og hjælpeløs kastede han sig ind til Frelserens bryst, tryglende om en velsignelse. Han ville ikke lade sig afvise, ej heller ville han afbryde sin bøn, og Kristus opfyldte denne hjælpeløse, bodfærdige sjæls begæring i overensstemmelse med forjættelsen om, at den, der søger værn hos Gud for at slutte fred med ham, skal finde fred. Med fast beslutning bad Jakob: »Jeg slipper dig ikke, uden du velsigner mig!« Denne standhaftighedens ånd blev indgivet af det guddommelige væsen, der kæmpede med patriarken, og ham var det også, som gav denne sejren og forandrede hans navn fra Jakob til Israel, idet han sagde: »Du har kæmpet med Gud og mennesker og sejret!« Hvad Jakob forgæves havde kæmpet for i sin egen styrke, blev vundet ved selvovergivelse og standhaftig tro. »Og dette er den sejr, som har sejret over verden: vor tro.« (Es. 27,5; 1Mos. 32,26. og 28; 1Joh. 5,4).