Golden Text: Genesis 32: 28
And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
EXPOSITION:
We are still looking at how Jacob became Isreal, being an allegory to understand the reality of the new creature.
Yesterday, we saw that Isreal was blessed and has obtained grace from God. Therefore, Esau can not work against him.
Our opening text reveals another important truth. In verse 28, it says Jacob is now Isreal because he has fought with God and with men and prevailed. Jacob prevailed?
The last time Jacob and Esau should have fought, Jacob ran away from the house. Neither did he fight in the house of Laban. He was a laborer there, not so far from a slave. None of these can be what God’s Spirit is calling “prevailed.”
On that night, while he wrestled with God (the Angel of God), he prevailed. Prevailed with God? What does that mean?
The only way he can prevail with God is to die. And indeed Jacob died that night. That is why in verse 30 said “And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”
Now, a man cannot see God “face to face” and live. That was what God told Moses when he prayed to see his face (Exodus 33: 20).
Therefore, for Jacob to say he saw God face to face, it means Jacob died!
Consequently, for Jacob to now say his life is preserved means he has a new life, hence a new name – Israel. So, Jacob prevailed by dying, to be resurrected as Israel(a new creature).
Now, in that state, God says he also prevailed with men. Why? Because the person (Jacob) that the men (of Esau) could have fought with no longer exist. Meaning, he didn’t fight any man but yet prevailed. He was supposed to fight Esau but the person who should do the fight died. No more need to fight. He won even before fighting.
This is similar to us as new creatures. For the bible says “we are more than conquerors”. That’s we won without fighting. Because the person that should really be fighting is dead. You are a new creature. You have prevailed. Hallelujah!
By: Ebenezer Odufuwa
Bible in a Year: Nehemiah 4-6.
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