"Israel"

In yesterday's reading God changed Jacob's name (Jacob means "he grasps the heel" or, figuratively, "he deceives") to Israel, which means "he struggles with God." God said "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."

I like what The People's Bible has to say about this: "Bible names often serve as more than convenient labels for people. Here Jacob's new name describes the new nature and character the Spirit of God had patiently and painstakingly created in him. No longer would he rely on his own cleverness to overcome anyone who opposed him. The heel-grabber had become the persistent fighter who clung to God's promise and won God's blessing legitimately. He had learned to lean on God."

What a fitting name for Jacob, but God was also founding a nation that would be called by the same name and go through the same struggle to rely on God's promises of a coming Savior. Today the Church is the New Testament Israel. Even now we face the same struggle--overcoming the temptations of this world and having faith in Jesus as Savior and hoping in God's promise of heaven. But by God's grace we will struggle with God and with men and overcome!