A New Name

A New Name

Q: When Jacob wrestled with God,

• a. he got a broken arm and stitches.
• b. he got knocked out in the first round.
• c. he got his hip wrenched out of its socket.

Jacob was on his way home, but he wasn’t alone like he had been when he fled many years earlier. Now he had two wives, servants, and many children. He had a large number of goats, sheep, donkeys, and camels. Even so, he was still fearful about seeing his brother, Esau, again after his hasty departure and years of separation (see Genesis 27:41-44).

One night during his journey home, Jacob sent the others ahead, and he camped alone. A man came and wrestled him all through the night. At the end, the man wrenched Jacob’s hip out of its socket. The man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!”

Jacob knew this was no ordinary man. He told the man he wouldn’t let him go unless the man blessed him. The man told him, “Your name will no longer be Jacob. From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.”

Jacob had changed since the days when he got both his brother’s birthright and his blessing. Jacob had learned it was better to do things God’s way than his own. God gave Jacob a new name to reflect the changes in Jacob’s heart.

When you become a believer in Jesus, you become a new person inside. You are a child of God, and your heart changes. And you have a new name too—Christian.

For You

Jacob’s heart changed, and God changed his name, too. The old Jacob was known for his trickery and deceit, but the new, improved Jacob was known for his faith in God. How do others see you? What are you known for?

Answer: c

When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket.   Genesis 32:25

(The Whole Story: Genesis 32:22-32)