Following the Trail of God's Promises: The 40-Day ChallengeSample

19. Jacob Becomes Israel

A restless night. One of those sleepless ones.

Jacob goes through the events in his head, represses them, but sleep does not come. He faces his failures, omissions, lies and deceptions. For a long time, he has been haunted by the knowledge that he deceived his father Isaac, took away the birthright and blessing from his brother Esau. And he tricked Laban, but managed to make a covenant with him. Now Esau is coming to meet him. Jacob is frozen in fear. Esau will kill him for sure. In that nightmare, exhausted, he begs God for protection. For a moment, God's long-ago promise to give him numerous offspring and bless him flashed. Just for a moment.

He took the women, maidservants and children to the other side of the Jabbok, just in case. Then his property. He had done everything, but still there was restlessness in that loneliness. Then a man appeared. He wrestled with him until exhaustion. It was a struggle for a glimmer of light over doubts, wrong choices, decisions, quests. Since Jacob did not give in, the man struck his hip. Jacob did not give in even then. Aware of the man he was fighting with, he said: “I won't let you go unless you bless me.” And the man asked him: “What is your name?” and then gave him a new name: Israel. A new identity. New beginning. A new opportunity. Jacob smiled. He needed that. Then the man blesses him.

He met God face to face and could not remain unchanged. It dawned. The morning of a new day.