Stillናሙና

Who Are You?

Who are you? I am sure you have heard this question many times in your life. 

In Genesis 27, Isaac asks his son this very question - “who are you - Esau or Jacob?” (v.18). Jacob answered, “Esau”. Jacob pretended to be someone he wasn’t in order to gain his father’s blessing and approval.

Have you ever done this? Have you ever pretended to be someone you weren’t in order to get other people to like you, accept you, or to fit in? Have you ever faked it to fit in?

Here’s the problem: when you have to keep up that act and pretend you’re someone you aren’t in order to fit in, it will wear you out. It gets stressful. You may worry that you're going to be found out—that people will find out you aren’t as cool, knowledgable, or good as you pretend to be.

How much of your stress is caused by you trying to fit in and constantly feel like you have to put on a show?

The good news is, life doesn’t have to be this way. You don’t have to find your approval from others - your worth doesn’t come from them! Your worth comes from God. 

Jacob hid his identity from his dad and pretended to be someone he wasn’t. However, in Genesis 32, after Jacob wrestled with the man, he was once again asked, “what is your name?”. This time, Jacob answered honestly. He was no longer pretending to be someone he wasn’t in order to gain the acceptance and approval of others.

So, who are you?