Committing Himself To God

Jacob had done everything he could think of to protect himself if Esau was still angry over his cheating twenty years before.  He had divided his property into two groups so that if Esau attacked the first group the second could possibly escape.  In addition, he had sent a number of bribes ahead to placate any anger that still existed, making a special point that he would not be dependent on Esau.  Later that evening, he had one more idea.  He sent his wives and children across the Jabbock while he remained on the other side, in hopes that seeing them would soften Esau’s heart before he met Jacob, as Genesis 32:22-23 describes.  “And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.  And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.” 

He had done everything he could think of to placate Esau, but if he was still so angry he brought four hundred men to make sure they killed Jacob none of those things might be enough,  It was the lowest point in Jacob’s life, and he could see no way out.   It was at this point God appeared to him again.  The first time, at Bethel, in Genesis 28:20-22, Jacob had tried to manipulate God by offering to serve him if he would do what Jacob wanted.  “And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.”  He took the approach he was doing God a favor by letting him be his God. 

This time he is desperate for God’s help.  His response is not just a quick easy mental assent, but a deep down desire, as we see in Genesis 32:24-30.  “And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.  And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.  And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh.

And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.

And he said unto him, What is thy name?

And he said, Jacob.

“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.

And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name.

And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.  And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.” 

This time, Jacob was willing to do whatever it took to get God’s blessings, even though it meant he would be a cripple for the rest of his life.  He was not just looking for an easy way out of his problems, but has made a definite commitment. Regardless of the cost.  In the teachings in Luke 14:25-33, Jesus makes the point that a person who is not willing to make such a commitment to Christ cannot be his disciple, literally that they cannot be save,    

As a result, of his commitment to God, Jacob was given a new name, Israel, ‘a prince with God,’ rather than Jacob, ‘the cheat.’  The new name implies there has been a change in Jacob’s nature.  II Corinthians 5:17 tells us, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”  Although he remembered it vividly, the experience at Bethel produced no such change.  He would not come to God until twenty years later.  That new name is critical.  Revelation 2:17 tells us those who are committed to God receive a new name. “He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it.”  Revelation 20:15 tells us that those who have not had that new name recorded will face eternal judgment.  “And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.”      Without it, we cannot enter into heaven.