Daily Devotions
Genesis
"I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, And will call upon the name of the Lord." Psalm 116:17
Text: Genesis 32:1-32
A NEW NAME
The wrestling match had revealed many things about Jacob. But even more important, his life had undergone further development. The desired blessing that Jacob had sought so intensely would be granted.
“So He said to him, ‘What is your name?’
He said, ‘Jacob.’
And He said, ‘Your name shall no longer be called Jacob,
but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men,
and have prevailed.'”
GENESIS 32:27-28
Jacob was the name given at his birth. He had grabbed his brother’s leg as he was born. Jacob meant ‘heal-grabber’. And all his life, he lived up to this ignominious name! He had grabbed his way up the ladder of life. Along this pathway, he found that success was bitter-sweet at best.
The old ways must go. He must never be a heel-grabber again! He would not need to be, if he would just exercise his faith in God! This was the new way to go. He must struggle in prayer. If he were to show the same determination in spiritual endeavours, he would prevail!
A name change was deemed symbolically necessary. The new name given was “Israel”. He has become princely in the way he had conducted himself. Israel was a suitable new name. This name carried a wonderful meaning. He was now “a prince with God”.
THE BLESSING OF ISRAEL
Israel was intrigued by the Person with whom he had wrestled the whole night through. Who exactly was He? What was His Name?
“Then Jacob asked, saying, ‘Tell me Your name, I pray.’
And He said, ‘Why is it that you ask about My name?’
And He blessed him there.”
GENESIS 32:29
Out of curiosity Jacob asked after the name of the Man who had wrestled with him! This Person had the authority to change Jacob’s name to Israel! Could Israel not have known that this Person was none other than The Angel of the Lord who had spoken to him in a dream (Genesis 31:11).
What name could contain all the majesty and power of this Divine Being! A Name was not necessary – surely! It was enough for Jacob to bow himself to the ground to receive a special blessing! Jacob realized afresh who had blessed him! Suddenly the significance of having spent the whole night with the Divine Wrestler hit him hard.
“So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel:
‘For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.'”
GENESIS 32:30