Dictionary of Bible Themes 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. Acts 26:14The striving of the wicked with God It is the result of a guilty conscience 2 Chronicles 13:12See also Striving against God cannot succeed Proverbs 21:30Isaiah 8:10 Acts 11:17 Psalms 2:2-5 See also It leads to the destruction of those who attempt it Job 15:20-26,30Acts 7:51 Ways in which the wicked strive with God By resisting the Holy Spirit Romans 9:20See also By arguing with God Job 40:2Isaiah 45:9-11 Numbers 14:1-4,10-11; 20:13 Psalms 95:8-9 Through unbelief Acts 5:39By attacking God's people See also 1 Samuel 17:45To attack God's people is to attempt to attack God himself. Isaiah 37:22-25Acts 9:4-5 Genesis 32:24-28 Jacob strives with God See also Hosea 12:2-5Jacob'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. Acts 24:16The striving of the righteous with God See also The struggle for righteousness Luke 13:24Romans 7:14-25 1 Corinthians 9:25-27 Philippians 3:10-14 1 Timothy 4:10 Hebrews 12:4 Colossians 4:12 See also The discipline of prayer Isaiah 64:7Luke 22:44 Exodus 5:22-23 See also The struggle to understand God's purposes Job 10:18Psalms 73:16; 88:14-18 Habakkuk 1:2-4,13 See also 1130 God, sovereignty5095 Jacob, life 5830 delight 5932 response 6166 flesh, sinful nature 8356 unselfishness 8477 self-examination 8483 spiritual warfare, causes 8614 prayer, answers 8656 longing for God 8785 opposition 8823 self-righteousness |
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