“Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak.”
Genesis 32:24
While returning to Canaan to see his long-estranged brother Esau, Jacob met a mysterious person—God Himself in an angelic form of a man—who wrestled with him through the night. “What is your name?” the man asked.
“Jacob.”
Jacob, the supplanter, because he spent his life using cunning and trickery to get what he wanted. Jacob, the deceiver. These are not exactly ways a follower of God wants to be remembered. Yet the Lord placed His hand on Jacob, and that very night changed his name to Israel, because he had struggled with God and with men and had overcome (v. 28).
You and I have a greater Jacob: Jesus, who prevailed for us at the cross. With great drops of blood, Jesus prayed to be spared the cup of God’s wrath. But it was the Father’s will that He would drink that cup and pay the penalty for our sin. He was denied the blessing of God so we could be blessed. He was abandoned and rejected by the Father so we could be adopted and welcomed.
Your hard-won salvation comes through Christ, the One who puts His name on you and calls you His own.
“Jacob.”
Jacob, the supplanter, because he spent his life using cunning and trickery to get what he wanted. Jacob, the deceiver. These are not exactly ways a follower of God wants to be remembered. Yet the Lord placed His hand on Jacob, and that very night changed his name to Israel, because he had struggled with God and with men and had overcome (v. 28).
You and I have a greater Jacob: Jesus, who prevailed for us at the cross. With great drops of blood, Jesus prayed to be spared the cup of God’s wrath. But it was the Father’s will that He would drink that cup and pay the penalty for our sin. He was denied the blessing of God so we could be blessed. He was abandoned and rejected by the Father so we could be adopted and welcomed.
Your hard-won salvation comes through Christ, the One who puts His name on you and calls you His own.
Scripture Focus
Genesis 32:22-32
Insight
FAVORITE OLD TESTAMENT STORY by Barry Smith, a prison ministry Anchor writer. Among other things, he serves as the Regional Director of Metanoia Prison Ministries in Tennessee and as a professor for MINTS Seminary-in-Prison.
Bible In A Year
- Numbers 3-4
- Psalm 62
- John 2-3