Jacob Faces Himself (Gen. 32:27-28)

 

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 02-21-2007

 

My Worship Time                                                                  Focus:  Jacob Faces Himself

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                   Reference:  Genesis 32:27-28

 

            Message of the verses:  “27  So he said to him, "What is your name?" And he said, "Jacob."  28  He said, "Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.’”

           

            In these two verses and also the remaining four verses in this chapter Jacob has to face himself and what he sees he may not like, and have a desire to change and began again.  God asked him what his name was in verse twenty-seven, but didn’t God know his name? so why did He asked him his name?  The last time someone asked Jacob his name, as recorded in the Scripture, was when his father asked him his name and he lied to him by saying that he was Esau.  This was part of the old Jacob, for his name means to scheme and that is what he did for most of his life.  Jacob answers the Lord by telling Him his name was Jacob, but the God gives him a new name, the name Israel and different scholars give different meanings to this name.  Dr. Wiersbe quotes G. Campbell Morgan who states that Israel means “a God mastered man.”  Dr. Wiersbe goes on to write, “When God rules our lives, then He can trust us with His power; for only those who are under His authority have the right to exercise His authority.  While at home, Jacob has served himself and created problems; and for twenty years he served Laban and created further problems, but now he would serve God and become a part of the answer.”

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  I have been praying that God would give me an answer and help to overcome some sinful habits that began in my mind and then at times are moved into actions.  I have learned from this section that I have to face myself and allow God to change me as He changed Jacob, for when I look at myself there are many times when I do not like what I see.

 

The Word of God has been very convicting and very challenging to my heart as I read and studied it this morning.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To face myself and to seek God’s face so He will change the things that need to be changed in my life.  To trust the Lord and His Word to conquer the things that is causing me to sin.  To continue to be taught contentment by the Lord and to trust that the Lord will direct my path.