God Gives Jacob a New Name

KEY VERSE: “Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with man, and hast prevailed.” —Genesis 32:9-12,22-30

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Genesis 32:9-12, 22-30

NAMES in the Old Testament time when changed, especially by divine direction, often reflected a new purpose or a new responsibility in the person’s life. For example, Abram’s name was changed to Abraham, which means ‘father of a multitude’. Sarai’s name, which means ‘contentious’, was changed to Sarah, which means ‘princess’. When Jacob’s name was changed to Israel, this was for a purpose also, and reflected the increased role Jacob was to have in God’s arrangements. But this added honor was not to be his until he had been proven and tested.

After some forty years, the Lord instructed Jacob to leave Padan-aram and return to his native land, Canaan. (Gen. 31:3) He had many unpleasant experiences with his uncle, Laban, and was now ready to demonstrate faith in the overruling providences of the Lord. However, the last experience Jacob had with Esau, who still lived in Canaan, was fresh in his mind, and from the standpoint of the flesh he was afraid. Jacob was now ninety-seven years old, and rich in flocks and herds; and with his wives and twelve sons he started on the long journey of four hundred and fifty miles. Progress was slow because of the herds, giving Jacob much time to meditate upon the very probable hostile reception he would receive from Esau. Yet, in spite of his fears, he was obedient in carrying out God’s instructions to return to Canaan and a confrontation with Esau.

As Jacob neared Canaan, he sent messengers ahead with gifts to Esau, but in return he learned that Esau, with four hundred mounted men was coming forth to meet him. This news aroused Jacob’s worst fears. In preparation for what he assumed would be an unpleasant meeting, he divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds, and the camels, into two bands, “and said, If Esau come to the one company and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.” (Gen. 32:8) Then Jacob went to God in prayer. In his prayer he acknowledged God as the source of all his blessings which were first enjoyed by his grandfather, Abraham, and later by his father, Isaac. He reminded God that he was where he was because of obedience to the instructions received from him. He stated, “I am not worthy of the least of all the mercies, and of all the truth, which thou hast showed unto thy servant; for with my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I have become two bands.” (Gen. 32:10) Here Jacob acknowledged the bountiful material blessings he had received at the Lord’s hand, and also the promise of the future blessings represented in the birthright which was now his.

Apparently God sent a messenger to comfort and reassure Jacob, but the messenger withheld the blessing until Jacob demonstrated his sincere desire to receive it. This Jacob did by wrestling with the messenger to prevent him from leaving before he received the blessing. “And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” (vs. 26) Then, in verse twenty-eight, “Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.”

The Lord answered Jacob’s prayer, for when Esau and his group came to where Jacob was waiting, “Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.” (Gen. 33:4) The Lord later confirmed what the angel had told Jacob, saying, “Thy name shall not be called any more Jacob, but Israel shall be thy name: and he called his name Israel. And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins; and the land which I gave Abraham and Isaac, to thee I will give it, and to thy seed after thee will I give the land.”—Gen. 35:10-12

On his deathbed, Israel (Jacob) blessed his twelve sons, and through them the patriarchal tribal arrangement was continued. (Gen. 49:1-33) After their time of slavery in Egypt, they were delivered by God across the Red Sea and led to Mount Sinai where the Lord began dealing with them as a nation under the Law Covenant. The nation was divided into twelve tribes, each carrying the name of one of Jacob’s twelve sons. The name Israel did have a prophetic fulfillment and the nation will continue to be used by the Lord even in the kingdom.

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