Dictionary of Bible Themes Dictionary of Bible Themes » 8000 The life of the believer » 8600 Prayer and worship of the believer » 8672 striving with God Striving with God can refer both to the fruitless opposition of the ungodly to God's will and purposes, and to the struggle of the righteous with God, as they seek to find his will and obey it. The striving of the wicked with God It is the result of a guilty conscience Striving against God cannot succeed 2 Chronicles 13:12 See also Proverbs 21:30; Isaiah 8:10; Acts 11:17 It leads to the destruction of those who attempt it Psalm 2:2-5 See also Job 15:20-26,30 Ways in which the wicked strive with God By resisting the Holy Spirit By arguing with God Romans 9:20 See also Job 40:2; Isaiah 45:9-11 Through unbelief Numbers 14:1-4,10-11; Numbers 20:13; Psalm 95:8-9 By attacking God's people Acts 5:39 To attack God's people is to attempt to attack God himself. See also 1 Samuel 17:45; Isaiah 37:22-25; Acts 9:4-5 Jacob strives with God Genesis 32:24-28 Jacob's struggle with God represents the conflict within himself between self-will and dependence on God. As “Jacob”, the supplanter, he had overcome Esau and Laban, but God demonstrates his superior power in the wrestling match so that as “Israel” he will be submissive to the divine will. See also Hosea 12:2-5 The striving of the righteous with God The struggle for righteousness Acts 24:16 See also Luke 13:24; Romans 7:14-25; 1 Corinthians 9:25-27; Philippians 3:10-14; 1 Timothy 4:10; Hebrews 12:4 The discipline of prayer Colossians 4:12 See also Isaiah 64:7; Luke 22:44 The struggle to understand God's purposes Exodus 5:22-23 See also Job 10:18; Psalm 73:16; Psalm 88:14-18; Habakkuk 1:2-4,13 See also
1130 God, sovereignty |
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