Genesis 32:26

will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

This is the culminating point of the struggle, the very acme of the conditions to successful prayer. In the outward form of the contest, which shadows forth the spiritual conflict, Jacob stands maimed and almost helpless. As if to test him, at daybreak, his antagonist, who had shown him that he was as wax in his hands, exclaimed, "The day dawns; let me go." Then the helpless Jacob, fully conscious of his own weakness and needs, ready to die in this struggle for the divine help rather than to die without the divine help, exclaimed, "I will not let thee go," etc. As though he had said:. cannot be denied.. have thy promise; it touches this very case; protection and succor. need or. fail;. cannot let go my hold.. must have help and have it now, or. perish. This is the spirit of all successful prayer. The widow who demanded justice of the unjust judge (Luke 18) would not be denied, and teaches us to "pray always and faint not." Rachel travailed on her knees over her barrenness and exclaimed, "Give me children, or. die," and God heard her and took away her shame. John Knox carried the case of Scotland, given over to Romish idolatry, to the throne of grace, night and day, and those who listened to his wrestlings with the angel of the Lord in his closet would hear him exclaim, "O God, give me Scotland, or. die!" God heard him and delivered Scotland from the Romish yoke. Judson, the missionary, once said: "Whatever. have set my heart upon and asked earnestly and persistently of God, in some way, but perhaps not in my way, and at some time, but perhaps not in my time, has always been bestowed."