Genesis 32:28a (NIV) Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel…
All night long Jacob cried out to God, “Bless me.” All night long God responded by asking, “What is your name?” Why was God so persistent? Why did the struggle go on for so long? God already knew Jacob’s name. But to admit his name was to expose the fact that Jacob was a liar and a deceiver. When he finally confessed his identity to God, that confession became the key to his transformation. Jacob had to come to grips with the truth of his flawed human nature and give God permission to transform his life. When this happened, a domino effect began that brought healing to Jacob’s other relationships, especially those in his family. The principle remains today. The external problems we bring to God in prayer are sometimes answered by a miracle of internal change in us. What attitudes, motivations, perspectives, or ideologies must we relinquish before wisdom and understanding can dawn in our hearts and we find redirection? Quit fighting. Surrender to God.
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