S (Scripture): Genesis 32:22 Jacob got up during the night, took his two wives, his two women servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed the Jabbok River’s shallow water. 23 He took them and everything that belonged to him, and he helped them cross the river. 24 But Jacob stayed apart by himself, and a man wrestled with him until dawn broke. 25 When the man saw that he couldn’t defeat Jacob, he grabbed Jacob’s thigh and tore a muscle in Jacob’s thigh as he wrestled with him. 26 The man said, “Let me go because the dawn is breaking.”
But Jacob said, “I won’t let you go until you bless me.”
27 He said to Jacob, “What’s your name?” and he said, “Jacob.” 28 Then he said, “Your name won’t be Jacob any longer, but Israel, because you struggled with God and with men and won.”
29 Jacob also asked and said, “Tell me your name.”
But he said, “Why do you ask for my name?” and he blessed Jacob there.
O (Observation): Name changes in the Old Testament are very significant. Sometimes places are named or re-named. Sometimes people are given new names:
Abram->Abraham, Sarai->Sarah, Jacob->Israel, etc.
In every case, the name means something in the Hebrew language. Where Jacob wrestled with God, Jacob re-names that place Peniel (which translates to “face of God,” since Jacob “sort of saw God” there).
Jacob’s name has been the subject of much study and contemplation. A quick read through Genesis shows that Jacob sort of usurped the birthright and blessing from his older twin, Esau. Jacob’s name can be translated as “heel / trickster / overreacher / supplanter.” This indeed describes Jacob’s actions regarding Esau.
And as Jacob wrestled with God (or an angel of God?), God asks Jacob to let him go. Jacob will not, without a blessing. All of this wrestling is good and well, but finally, God asks Jacob to say his own name: JACOB.
In speaking his own name (usurper / supplanter) Jacob is almost confessing before God. Jacob is owning up to his name: usurper!
And instead of replying with a name, God simply blesses Jacob, and gives him a new name: ISRAEL. Traditionally, this is translated: “he struggles with God.” However, some suggest a better linguistic etymology results in the following: “God struggles” or “God rules.”
God rules. God struggles.
A (Application): Owning our own junk is the talk of the news stations: school shootings, affairs, politics. We all have junk we gotta own up to. As scary as this is, God wishes for us to wrestle with these things. Privately, publicly, depends on the situation. But a confession is sought after, especially when harm is done to another.
God continues to wrestle with us. To bring us back to loving one another. To bring us to a place in which compassion for our fellow human beings is paramount.
Instead, we draw up borders, pick up guns, and spend our time arguing how to keep people out. We think defense is the only priority. That if we don’t “defend ourselves” progress will halt. That we will revert back to colonial times or “have to start learning to speak Spanish or Arabic.”
In the meantime, shootings are happening almost daily…people are being beaten and killed because of their sexual orientation…parents are ripped away from their children, because we don’t have a good plan for immigration…DACA recipients who would contribute greatly with the resources here in America will be going “underground” and not be able to acquire or use a college degree…as others remain homeless, and the hungry remain hungry.
What are our priorities? God wrestles with us as we contemplate these things. And maybe before God blesses us…we will have to speak our name… that we might have to own up to our role as “usurper / supplanter.”
P (Prayer): God, help us to own our own junk. To confess to you, to receive forgiveness from you and to find a new identity in you. Amen.
Digging Daily with Pastor Michael 