The question was asked to Jacob by God, “What’s your name?” I sense a long, painful pause between the question and the reply. This would be a confession. Jacob was admitting to God that he was, indeed, a Jacob. A name that means heel, cheater, hustler, smart operator, fraud.
God told Jacob, “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won” (Genesis 32:28 NLT).
The old Jacob fought for himself. The old Jacob relied on his wits, trickery, and fast feet. The new Jacob had a new source of power—God. And from this day forward each introduction would be a reminder of God’s presence. “Hello, my name is God fights.” His old name reflected his old self. His new name reflected his new strength. “God fights.” What grace.
