Jacob: Renamed

Genesis 32

Personal Note: Thank you for engaging each day in “God’s Story in God’s People.” We are reading selected stories from Scripture to follow how God writes his story in the people he pursues. There are four threads that weave throughout the Bible: Who God is. Who we are. How to know God. How to live for God. We are using the acronym CAMDE-400 to help us understand the flow of the Old Testament. If you remember CAMDE-400, you know the major outline of the Old Testament. Later, I will introduce another acronym for the New Testament [Spoiler Alert: CALY—Christ. Apostles. Letters. Yet-to-Come. CAMDE-400-CALY gives ten signposts for the overall flow of the Bible.]

Jacob’s life was filled with tension. Do you ever feel that way? As if every direction you turn brings another daunting challenge? 

After stealing his brother’s birthright and blessing, Jacob fled to Paddan Aram. Yet the twenty years in the plains of Aram didn’t bring the peace he sought. His father-in-law deceived Jacob on his wedding night. Jealousy divided his two wives, and Laban’s sons (Jacob’s brothers-in-law) accused him of growing wealthy at their family’s expense (Gen. 31:1). God told Jacob it was time to return home and promised to be with him (Gen. 31:3).

Jacob had left Canaan as a young man with nothing, so to speak. Now he was returning home with a large family, abundant possessions, and much livestock. Jacob and his family secretly left Paddan Aram without telling his father-in-law, which did not sit well with Laban. When Laban caught up with Jacob, they had a tense conversation that culminated in a covenant (Gen. 31:44-53). 

As Jacob continued his journey, “the angels of God met him” (Gen. 32:1-2). The phrase “the angels of God” appears twice in the Old Testament. Interestingly, “the angels of God” met Jacob twenty years earlier as he fled Canaan (Gen. 28:12), and now they meet him again on his return trip home. There are many similarities between these two encounters.[1] Jacob names the place Mahanaim, meaning “two camps.” The name signifies that heaven and earth have met. Jacob’s camp and God’s camp are set next to each other. 

To return to Canaan, Jacob had to pass through the land of Seir, where Esau lived, which posed an unknown danger. Jacob sent messengers to Esau to seek his favor; however, they returned with the startling news that Esau was coming to meet Jacob with four hundred men. Jacob was “greatly afraid and distressed” (Gen. 32:7). 

Jacob prayed for God’s protection (Gen. 32:9-12) and devised a plan he hoped would appease Esau (Gen. 32:13-21). That night, Jacob separated himself from his family to keep them safe, then stayed at a distance, where he was surprised by a divine encounter. 

Jacob was alone in the darkness, afraid and anxious, when he sensed a physical presence. The man immediately began to wrestle with Jacob, and the struggle continued throughout the night until daybreak. The man, who we now know was God in human form, allowed Jacob to have the upper hand but showed his supernatural strength by dislocating Jacob’s hip with a touch of his hand. 

Jacob clung to the man, to God, for dear life, saying, “I will not let go until you bless me” (Gen. 32:26). Therefore, God blessed Jacob with a new name. “Then he said, ‘Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with men, and have prevailed’” (Gen. 32:28). 

The name “Israel” means “God fights,” although some interpret it to mean “he fights with God.” Could it be that God intended the name to have a double meaning? He will always fight for his people, and his people will struggle with him.  

The believer is in a spiritual battle on three fronts. Our flesh desires to give in to our favorite sins.[2] The world normalizes sin, trying to convince us that truth is relative. And Satan is behind it all. So, we are in a struggle to do the right thing, a struggle with God’s Word and his truth. God is right there with us, through his Spirit, fighting the battle for us. The nation of Israel epitomized their name—they fought with God as God fought for them. Today, believers do the same. 

Jacob called the place of the wrestling match Peniel, which means “face of God,” to remember that he had encountered the living God, and God changed his name. 

All believers have that same encounter. When we were alone, afraid, and masking our insecurity by doing our own thing, God interrupted our lives and said—You are mine! He transformed our hearts, renamed us Christ-followers, and fights for us. 

What an amazing truth! God is always on our side.

PERSONAL TIME WITH GOD

Reading and reflection: Genesis 32. What does “wrestling with God” look like in your life right now—his Word, his timing, his call to obedience?

Talking to God: How are you responding?   

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SAVE THE DATE: Bible Immersion trip to Israel: November 4-14, 2026.