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From Genesis 29-32, 20 years go by that we won’t dwell on here. Jacob goes to Laban, works seven years to marry Rachel, is tricked by Laban and marries Leah instead, marries Rachel a week later (!!), works another seven years for her… and all the while this family is showing not only a lack of understanding of biology 101, but is also revealing a lack of faith in God and His sovereignty.

Jacob thinks his flocks are increasing because he has them mate in front of striped sticks (hmmm…), Rachel and Leah are competing to see who can have more sons (through themselves or their servants!)and earn Jacob’s love, and Laban is unethically using his nephew (and son-in-law twice over) Jacob.

Ahh, the family bliss. [And you thought your family reunion this summer was complicated!] :)

In chapter 32, we find Jacob fearful for his life as he nears his reunion with Esau. In verses 9-12, Jacob prays as we have never seen him pray before.

Then Jacob said, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, the Lord who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your family, and I will deal well with you’: “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies and of all the truth which You have shown Your servant; for I crossed over this Jordan with my staff, and now I have become two companies. “Deliver me, I pray, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau; for I fear him, lest he come and attack me and the mother with the children. “For You said, ‘I will surely treat you well, and make your descendants as the sand of the sea, which cannot be numbered for multitude.’ ”

This is the first time we have seen Jacob acknowledging God’s undeserved mercy and blessing toward him, and expressing faith in God’s promise to watch over him. And what is God’s answer to his prayer?

After dividing his family and possessions into two groups, hoping at least one of them would escape if Esau attacked him, he sends them across a stream ahead of him and prepares to spend the night alone. Then verse 24 says, “Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day.” What? How random is that?? It seems strange, but really it is God’s answer to his earlier prayer. Please read this whole account in your Bible (again, if you don’t have a Bible handy go to www.Biblegateway.com) – Genesis 32:24-30.

Who is this random man who wrestles with him? Jacob apparently knows – in verse 30 he says, “…I have seen God face to face…”

He is wrestling with Jesus himself! (This is what is known as a “Christophany” – an Old Testament appearance of Christ.)

So Jesus is wrestling with him and Jacob just will not give up. He is fighting and fighting and fighting, so Jesus touches his hip socket, dislocates it, and forces him into submission. Then Jacob refuses to let go of Him unless He blesses Him. Jesus asks Jacob his name, he gives it, and then Jesus says he is no longer Jacob, but will be Israel.

Here is my rephrased version of this chapter.

Jacob, “the deceiver,” the “heel grabber,” finally cries out to God. He finally recognizes that he is absolutely unworthy of all of God’s blessings upon Him, and begs for God’s protection and deliverance. God’s answer to the prayer? Jesus Himself comes and fights Jacob into submission – it is a long struggle, but He physically forces Jacob to submit. Jacob then clings to Him until he receives His blessing. Jesus asks him what his name is. (Isn’t that a strange question, since God created Jacob and knows him intimately? Again, that should flag our attention – the point is not that Jacob’s “hello, my name is:” tag fell off during the wrestling match.) Jacob’s reply?

Imagine the tension here. He is clinging to “the Man” he somehow knows is God Himself and has asked for a blessing. Jesus looks into his eyes and says, “What is your name?” And now Jacob has to say it: I am Jacob. I am a deceiver. I am a heel-grabber. And he knows full well that he has done a bang-up job of living up to that name. Jesus hears his answer and then replies, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel…

This change of name was very significant. He is no longer the deceiver. His name has been changed because his character has been changed.

There are many, many people who get lost on the journey from Bethel (the place of Jacob’s dream) to Peniel (the place of Jacob’s wrestling.) We have been given an amazing gift – the opportunity to know God Himself through Jesus Christ. Some people decide to decline that offer and go on through life relying on their own intelligence, ability, or craftiness. They even arrogantly think that any blessings they have in their lives have been earned by their own efforts, failing to recognize God’s mercy and grace that shines on them every day.

Many times God allows a crisis point that turns into a place like Peniel to them. Maybe it’s a health crisis, a broken relationship, a miscarriage or other loss of a child, or reaping terrible consequences from their own choices. They realize that all they have is on the line, including their very lives. They realize that God has watched over them every step and now desperately beg for his provision and protection. And when we ask, God will come. We must yield to Him as Creator, Sovereign Lord, and Savior. When we are broken, humble, and aware of our dependence on Him, begging for His mercy and saving grace in our lives, He will ask for our name. He will not bless us until we admit our character, until we agree with Him about the depth of our sin.

We all have sin. What is your name that you must admit to the Lord? “Deceiver” (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob). “Prostitute” (Rahab, Mary Magdelene). “Murderer” (Moses, Paul). “Adulterer” (David). Remember – people aren’t in the Bible because they were great. They’re in the Bible because their God is great.

Those names listed above may be familiar to you, and their past is shocking. And you know what? Their God was great enough to save them. Our sin can never be so bad that God us unable or unwilling to wipe it away through Christ! But, we must recognize that sin, confess it to Him, and ask for His blessing of salvation. And when we do, our “name” changes, for we are covered with Christ’s righteousness. We are “Jacobs” no longer.

Weak and wounded sinner, lost and left to die,
O raise your head for Love is passing by.
Come to Jesus, come to Jesus, come to Jesus and live.
-Chris Rice

**For more reflections on the Old Testament with personal application, you might want to download a free Bible study ebook!**