(The Spiritual Life of Jacob) (Part 3) (Following May 31, 2009)

Jacob began to think of going back to his father’s home! After 20 years of staying with his uncle and his father-in-law, although Jacob married to his two cousins as wives and accepted two maidservants as his concubines; and he got 11 sons and one daughter, he was not happy. Besides, because of fighting over the problems of property with his uncle, Jacob and his wives felt it was about time to leave. They wanted to go home – the home of his father.

But one particular issue came back as soon as Jacob was thinking of going back home. Why did Jacob run away from home 20 years ago? It was because of his older brother, who, after been tricked and cheated by Jacob and lost his birthright and blessing from his father, Esau swore to kill Jacob after his father’s death. This kind of shadow appeared right after he decided to go home.

In order to know his brother, Esau’s intention, Jacob sent his servants to pass the message of his coming home to his brother. But when his servants came back and told him, "We went to your brother Esau, and he is coming to meet you, and 400 men are with him." (Gen. 32:6.) Jacob was grasped by great fear and distress immediately. Here was his response how to deal with this problem:

First of all, he immediately divided his people and property into two groups. He thought, "If Esau comes and attacks one group, another may still have chance to escape."

Secondly, he began to pray fervently. He needed God’s special protection and mercy.

Thirdly, that night he still could not sleep. He came up to prepare a great deal of gifts for his brother.

Fourthly, he still could not sleep at night, and he divided his groups into 4.

Finally, when they reached a streamside, called the ford of the Jobbok; Jacob instructed everyone crossed the stream first. He was the only person left on this side of the stream to camp. He probably thought, "I need to take a good sleep tonight."

But unfortunately, it was totally against his plan and intention, because God had another better plan to solve Jacob’s problem.

By answering Jacob’s prayer, God sent an angelic man to wrestle with him whole night. That probably was a life or death game. Before daybreak, this man could not overpower Jacob and finally he touched Jacob’s hip. Since then, Jacob was wrenched. But Jacob still grasped this man and would not let him go unless he could receive blessings from this man. This angelic man changed his name from being called "Jacob" (means, "grasp") into "Israel" (grasp God and become a true winner.)

Jacob’s first intention to ask God was only seeking for protection and peace. But God has a better idea: taking this opportunity to touch and transform this person’s wicked personality and let Jacob experienced the greatest healing and acceptance of God.

The meanings of "Israel:"

First of all, it means to grasp God: Jacob was a man of grasp and that was the meaning of Jacob. He was wick and self-centered. But God taught him now the best one to grasp was God. Otherwise, he could be still a loser.

Furthermore, God taught Jacob that his name would be "Israel," this word could be divided into 2 meanings: "isra" (means: to be straight) "el" (means: God.) Namely God required Jacob from now on he needed to become a man who walked straight before God. No more crooked and tricked but being straight before God. But Jacob became cripple physically now, how could he walk straight? The spiritual meaning was: he needed to depend on God only.

Finally, the process of the entire wrestle, Jacob experienced the encounter with God. Yet he was not killed. It was because of God’s grace and mercy. Namely he was accepted by God miraculously. Therefore, when the next day he saw the sun rose up and the sunlight shined upon him, he sensed God’s acceptance and he named that place, "Peniel" (means: the Face of God.) At the same day, when Jacob met his brother, Esau, he said to his brother the same thing, "to see your face is like seeing the face of God." It means, "I have found in favor in your sight and being accepted and forgiven." (Gen. 33:10.) Since then, Jacob’s guilty feeling and shadow were totally released.

From now on, Jacob was called Israel, a man who has received grace and forgiveness. I pray that all of us may have the similar experience of Jacob in our Lord Jesus Christ. Then, our life will be totally different.