A Life and Death Matter, Conflict and Courage, Mar 2

And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. Genesis 32:26.  {CC 67.1}        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.  {CC 67.2}        It was in a lonely, mountainous region, the haunt of wild beasts and lurking place of robbers and murderers. Solitary and unprotected, Jacob bowed in deep distress upon the earth. . . . With earnest cries and tears he made his prayer before God. Suddenly a strong hand was laid upon him. He thought that an enemy was seeking his life, and he endeavored to wrest himself from the grasp of his assailant.  {CC 67.3}        In the darkness the two struggled for the mastery. Not a word was spoken, but Jacob put forth all his strength, and did not relax his  ...