A Changed Life, a New Name

 Our parents give us our name at birth. Some parents just pick a name that they think sounds good or appropriate. Other parents choose a name based on the names of other family members. I am named after both of my grandfathers. However, there are parents who name their children based on the meaning of the name. They want the name to communicate some special characteristic of their child. That was true of Jacob's name from his parents and from God.

Jacob means "supplanter." He came out holding Esau's heel, because he was going to become preeminent over his brother. Then, he stole the birthright from Esau and the blessing from Isaac by saying his name was Esau. (Genesis 32:27,28) On the night he wrestled with the preincarnate Jesus, the Lord asked him his name. He said correctly that his name was Jacob. Then, Jesus changed his name to Israel because he had wrestled with God and man and had won. The name Israel means "Prince of God." 

Jacob could have continued to be a supplanter, a deceiver, for his entire life, but he didn't. When he met God at Bethel and had his dream of the ladder reaching to heaven, he changed his life to honor God and see if God would bless him. That is what happened. His brother-in-law, Laban, treated Jacob badly, but Jacob told the truth and lived a righteous life before him and others. So God sent Jacob back home with his family and possessions, as He told him He would.

Jesus went to appear to Jacob, and they wrestled because Jacob was afraid of being killed by his brother Esau. That didn't happen because Jesus blessed him and protected Him from harm. He made Jacob into a great people, the people of Israel. All of those blessings came because he trusted God and His life was changed. The same can be true for any of us, if we will put our faith in Christ and live for Him the rest of our life.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 33-37.