Just Be You

Genesis 32:22-32

Jacob got up during the night, took his two wives, his two women servants, and his eleven sons, and crossed the Jabbok River’s shallow water. ²³ He took them and everything that belonged to him, and he helped them cross the river. ²⁴ But Jacob stayed apart by himself, and a man wrestled with him until dawn broke. ²⁵ When the man saw that he couldn’t defeat Jacob, he grabbed Jacob’s thigh and tore a muscle in Jacob’s thigh as he wrestled with him. ²⁶ The man said, “Let me go because the dawn is breaking.”

But Jacob said, “I won’t let you go until you bless me.”

²⁷ He said to Jacob, “What’s your name?” and he said, “Jacob.” ²⁸ Then he said, “Your name won’t be Jacob any longer, but Israel, because you struggled with God and with men and won.”

²⁹ Jacob also asked and said, “Tell me your name.”

But he said, “Why do you ask for my name?” and he blessed Jacob there. ³⁰ Jacob named the place Peniel, “because I’ve seen God face-to-face, and my life has been saved.” ³¹ The sun rose as Jacob passed Penuel, limping because of his thigh. ³² Therefore, Israelites don’t eat the tendon attached to the thigh muscle to this day, because he grabbed Jacob’s thigh muscle at the tendon.

Key Verse:

The man said, “Let me go because the dawn is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I won’t let you go until you bless me.” He said to Jacob, “What’s your name?” and he said, “Jacob.” Then he said, “Your name won’t be Jacob any longer, but Israel, because you struggled with God and with men and won.” —Genesis 32:26-28

Commentary:

Jacob was not the only person in the Bible to receive a new name. From Abraham and Sarah to Peter, we know that God gave new names to people as symbols of how God changed their lives. Jacob’s former name means “to grab at the heel.” Jacob came into the world fighting, grabbing at his brother, willing to deceive to get what he wanted. Now that he was face to face with someone who would not give up, Jacob demanded a blessing, which is symbolic of his whole life. Jacob, the ambitious deceiver, had now become Israel, the one who struggled with God and overcame.

Questions to Discuss:

Why was Jacob so afraid?

Put yourself in this situation; how would you react?

What does it take to figure out who we truly are?

What has helped to shape you and form your identity?