Jacob / Israel – Meaning of the name Israel is wrestled with God or clinging to God.
Genesis 32:22-31 And he arose that night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven sons and crossed over the ford of Jabbak. He took them, sent them over the brook, and sent over what he had. Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of the day. Now when He saw that he did not prevail against him He touched the socket of Jacob’s hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as he wrestled with him, and He said let Me go for the day breaks, but he said I will not let You go unless You bless me! So He said to him what is your name? He said Jacob and He said no longer will your name be Jacob , but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed. Then Jacob asked saying tell me your name I pray and He said, “Why is it you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there. So Jacob called the place Peniel; for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved
Jacob / Israel had 12 sons; Ruben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulum, Benjamin, and Joseph and his two sons Ephraim and Menasheh. These made up the 12 tribes of Israel. God’s chosen people.
Exodus 3:14-15 And God said to Moses, I AM WHO I AM and He said “thus say to the children of Israel / Jacob. “I AM has sent me to you the children of Israel.” More over God said to Moses thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ” The Lord God of your fathers the God of Abraham, The God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob has sent me to you.This is My name forever, and this is My memorial to all generation.”
The 12 sons of Jacob renamed Israel were in bondage in Egypt. Israel was a people from the 12 sons of Jacob / Israel that God had blessed and increased in numbers. God gave this people the descendants of Jacob / Israel the land of milk and honey.
Exodus 6:8 I will bring you to the land which I swore to give Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and I will give it to you for a possession and I will be their God.
Genesis 17:8 I will give you and your descendants after you the land of your sojourning, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession and I will be their God.
Numbers 14:8 If the Lord is pleased with us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us a land which flows with milk and honey.
The 12 sons of Jacob / Israel make up the 12 tribes of Israel. These sons and their offspring make up the people of Israel. Chosen by God to be his people and to teach others of Him. Israel is not a land but a nation of people. Land is what God gave them for a possession.
Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost. Israelites were still sinning and the gentiles were looked on as dogs. Jesus came as our Messiah for all peoples. Jesus Savior of the world. To all who believe in Jesus.
Thank You God the Father for sending Your Son Jesus to show us the way to You and to save all who would believe in Him. How great Thou art! To You be the glory, the honor and the praise forever and ever.
We as believers of Jesus Christ God’s perfect Son are the body / church and we are called to love God with all our hearts, minds, and strength and if we do this and obey His commands to love others as ourselves and to even love our enemies for in so doing we may win them for the kingdom of God; who is the God of love, truth, justice, light, goodness, gentleness, kindness, faithfulness, self control, mercy….
Thank you Jesus for Your Example of who God our Father is that we so need to follow. Your love and compassion for us is beyond understanding.
Shepard Your people.
