Jacob becomes Israel

Jacob is another one in the line of patriarchs whose name was given or changed by God, adding to my growing list of examples of the importance of NAME in God’s sight. Jacob’s case is somewhat different than the others, because the name switch does not appear to have taken root in our thoughts; we usually think of him as Jacob. We usally say, “Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,” not “Abraham, Isaac, and Israel.” His descendants, however, are known as the Children of Israel, Israelites, or Israelis.

God first told Jacob of his new name at the time of their midnight struggle – referenced by the prophecy in Jeremiah 30:7 as a time of Jacob’s trouble for God's people in the future. Jacob's new name has great meaning for those who sense they may go through that time of trouble, for Jacob (Ya`aqob) means "supplanter," while Israel (Yisra'el) means "God prevails."

27 So He said to him, “What is your name?”
He said, “Jacob.”
28 And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
29 Then Jacob asked, saying, “Tell me Your name, I pray.”
And He said, “Why is it that you ask about My name?” And He blessed him there. 

Genesis 32:27-29 (New King James Version) 

In verse 29, Jacob asks the name of the One with whom he had struggled, the One who gave him his new name, but apparently does not receive an answer. If it was answered is not recorded. Why? Or was the answer secreted away by those who have explained that the Name is so holy that it cannot be written or spoken by mortal man? What could the answer have been? Could it have been Yeshua? I wonder. We know that no man has seen God at any time, so if Jacob struggled with God (32:28) or God appeared to him (verses below), it would have to have been God's Son, known to us in the New Testament as Yeshua/Yahoshua.

God reiterates Jacob's new name:

9 Then God appeared to Jacob again, when he came from Padan Aram, and blessed him.
10 And God said to him, “Your name is Jacob; your name shall not be called Jacob anymore, but Israel shall be your name.” So He called his name Israel.
11 Also God said to him: “I am God Almighty. Be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall proceed from you, and kings shall come from your body. 

            Genesis 35:9-11 (New King James Version)

While looking for God-given names in the Bible, I found some names I've never heard of before. I will review those next time.