Genesis 32:27-32

“Then the man said, “You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.” vs. 28

When Jacob was born, grasping his brother Esau’s heel as he emerged from the womb, he got the name “Jacob,” which means, “the supplanter or grasper of the heel.” Now, after wrestling to a draw with the mysterious stranger he gets a name change. From now on in the story he will be called “Israel,” or “he who struggles with God.” Based on how our lives have transpired, many of us could also be called “Israel,” because we certainly have our struggles with God! With some the wrestling begins in adolescence as we begin to ask questions about faith and existence. We wonder how a good God could allow so much evil in this world, and why good people seem to suffer so much. Even if at some point we make a decision for faith the questions keep coming. Is there a plan or a purpose for my life? How come things never seem to work out for me?  And, is there really new life waiting for me following death? In the text, Jacob asks a question of the stranger, “What is your name?” and gets no answer. So often that’s how it is with our questions of God. We want answers…and we get silence. But like Jacob we limp on through life, somehow strengthened by the struggle, toughened maybe, and equipped for every challenge.

Thought for the Day: What struggles with God have I had?