Jacob Becomes Israel

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone and the new has come!"

II Corinthians 5:17

Have you had a life-altering wrestling match with God?

I am not talking about verbal sparring but the type of an encounter that we find Jacob having with God in Genesis chapter 32?

How can we know it altered his life?

Jacob - which means "he will take by the heel" and is recognized as a deceiver - had his name changed to Israel - which means "he shall be prince of God".

We are told in verse 28: "Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."" You see Jacob deceived his very own brother Esau out of his birthright and his blessing. He himself was later deceived (what you sow, you reap) by his uncle Laban and had to work 14 years for the love of his life Rebecah instead of the agreed upon 7 years. God took Jacob through a process in his life from a deceiver to one who prevails with God. It was not easy at times and we can thank God that that same grace and patience God had toward Jacob he has with us. There comes a time in each of our lives when we have to decide if we are going to continue as a Jacob or allow God's process in maturing us to change us to Israel. Abram became Abraham and Sarai became Sarah. Jesus did a similar thing with Simon by changing his name to Peter. You, at times, like Jacob will struggle with your old nature and you will struggle with God, to do what you know you should do. Who will prevail? The old man and his nature or the new man that has put on Christ?

Is there a new name in your future?