Jacob grew up in a God-fearing household, hearing the amazing stories of his grandfather Abraham and his father, Isaac.
But the faith of his fathers didn’t take root in his own heart until adulthood, when Jacob had a series of personal, supernatural encounters with God.
God appeared first to Jacob in a dream at Bethel (Genesis 28:10–22) and helped the conniving son of Isaac see that all those lavish promises first given to Abraham extended to him as well.
In that encounter, Jacob saw that he couldn’t simply ride the coattails of his godly ancestors. Following God or not was his own decision to make.
Years later, Jacob encountered God again while he was traveling back to Canaan with his growing family. This was the scene of Jacob’s famous “wrestling match” with God, when he received a gimpy hip and the new name “Israel” (Genesis 32:24–32).
Following a reunion with his twin brother, Esau, and upon his arrival in Shechem, he built an altar and called it “El Elohe Israel” (literally, El—or God—is the God of Israel).
This acknowledgement of God provided two reminders for Jacob (and for Bible readers today). First, it distinguished Israel’s God from all other gods. Jacob was identifying himself with the one true God and separating himself from the other so-called gods of other nations.
This acknowledgement of God provided two reminders for Jacob (and for Bible readers today). First, it distinguished Israel’s God from all other gods. Jacob was identifying himself with the one true God and separating himself from the other so-called gods of other nations.
Second, this name identified God as the God of relationship. God is not just the Creator of the universe or the God of humanity. He is deeply personal. He is the God of an individual named Israel (previously known as Jacob).
Thankfully the good news is this: The one true God can also be your God. When by faith in Christ you proclaim the God of the Bible as the God of your life, you enter into a relationship with Him.
You acknowledge that He is the only real God, that He is superior to all the false gods of the world people often look to for security, significance, and identity.
We wrap our lives around money, careers, popularity on social media, appearance, marriage, and friendships when we should be wrapping our minds and hearts around God. At the end of the day, we are left with one fact and one question:
God is the God of Israel. Is He your God too?
Based on how you live, could God identify Himself to the angels as the God of ____________ (your name)?
