And he said, '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 (Gen. 32:28).
In Bible times names were often indicative of character. So it was with Jacob, the supplanter. Jacob was his name, and Jacob he was. But now the greatest experience of his life had just taken place--the dark night of wrestling by the ford Jabbok. He was on his way back from the far country to the Promised Land. He was coming back to God's land, and this night he came back to God. He ceased his own striving, attempting everything in his own human wisdom and strength, and clung to God.
Jacob was fearful. His company had gone on over the brook. Esau, his brother, no doubt filled with the old anger and revenge, was coming to meet him with 400 armed men. His only defense was in the Lord as darkness came down upon the earth and upon his soul. He was alone in prayer when suddenly an unseen stranger grappled with him. All night the terrible contest continued. At daybreak his strong antagonist touched his thigh, and instantly it was out of joint. Then he must have recognized that he was wrestling with a divine being, who said, "Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he [Jacob] said I will not let thee go, except thou bless me" (Gen. 32:26). Then he received his new name, Israel, "a prince of God," "an overcomer."
At his last public service the aged John Wesley gave out his brother's hymn "Wrestling Jacob," and realizing how he himself was left alone--his brother and most of his friends having preceded him in death--he broke down and wept.
Like Jacob, we may have a new experience and the new name, Israel.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "For thou hast maintained my right and my cause" (Ps. 9:4).
In Bible times names were often indicative of character. So it was with Jacob, the supplanter. Jacob was his name, and Jacob he was. But now the greatest experience of his life had just taken place--the dark night of wrestling by the ford Jabbok. He was on his way back from the far country to the Promised Land. He was coming back to God's land, and this night he came back to God. He ceased his own striving, attempting everything in his own human wisdom and strength, and clung to God.
Jacob was fearful. His company had gone on over the brook. Esau, his brother, no doubt filled with the old anger and revenge, was coming to meet him with 400 armed men. His only defense was in the Lord as darkness came down upon the earth and upon his soul. He was alone in prayer when suddenly an unseen stranger grappled with him. All night the terrible contest continued. At daybreak his strong antagonist touched his thigh, and instantly it was out of joint. Then he must have recognized that he was wrestling with a divine being, who said, "Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he [Jacob] said I will not let thee go, except thou bless me" (Gen. 32:26). Then he received his new name, Israel, "a prince of God," "an overcomer."
At his last public service the aged John Wesley gave out his brother's hymn "Wrestling Jacob," and realizing how he himself was left alone--his brother and most of his friends having preceded him in death--he broke down and wept.
Like Jacob, we may have a new experience and the new name, Israel.
MEDITATION PRAYER: "For thou hast maintained my right and my cause" (Ps. 9:4).
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