JACOBS NAME CHANGE

There's a subtle strategy Satan uses to take control of our lives. The Bible calls it lasciviousness and it means "to have no restraint."

PRAYER - "Jacob's Prayer"

Jacob was plainly terrified of seeing Esau again. Twenty years earlier, Esau threatened to kill him. Jacob humbled himself and earnestly prayed to God, reminding Him of His promises to return him home safely. He begged God to help him. That night, Jacob met and wrestled with the angel that renamed him "Israel." Everything worked out excellently with Esau after that.

Genesis 32:11 - "Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children."

PRINCIPALS - "Jacob's Name Change"

One of the most notable events in human history is Jacob's name change. Dreading confrontation with Esau after twenty years of exile, Jacob prayed desperately for God's help. That night, an angel wrestled fiercely with Jacob, permanently injuring his thigh joint. Jacob said, "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me." Today's headlines contain the name spoken by the angel - ISRAEL.

Genesis 32:28 - "And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed."

PRINCIPLES - "Lead on Softly"

By the grace of God, Jacob and Esau reconciled beautifully. Jacob gave him generous gifts, and they blessed each other before parting ways. Jacob's anxiety was relieved. Peacefulness settled over him. From there on, he could relax and head for the promised land. They could travel at a leisure pace for the cattle and children. God diffused the crisis. When we finally see God's hand working, we can relax and travel on.

Genesis 33:14 - "I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure." 

PROPHECIES - "Jacob Takes Ownership"

Laban and Esau were behind now, so Jacob could take his family and flocks home to the promised land. He stopped for a while at Succoth, east of Jordan, and built shelters for cattle. But shortly, he purchased land from Shechem and for the first time, owned part of the promised land. Shechem is nestled between Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim - where Joshua pronounced blessing and cursing. Sooner or later, God's promises always come to pass.

Genesis 33:20 - "And he erected there an altar, and called it Elelohe-Israel (God - the God of Israel).

River of Revelation

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

– James 1:22

Have you ever been in the position in the past where every time you opened the Bible you received a river of revelation? Does it seem lately that the river’s run dry? If so, I strongly suggest that you backtrack to the last revelation God gave you. Back up and see if you acted on it, if you did what God showed you to do. If you didn’t, start again, digging in to that revelation and then putting it into action in your life. You’ll soon find new revelations are beginning to flow.

You see, revelation is most prolific when you are acting on the Word. I’ve discovered that for myself again and again. The more I act on the Word, the more I see into it. That’s why James 1:22 tells us to not only hear God’s Word but to do it!

It may seem that the things God has revealed to you are very insignificant. They may not even make good sense to your natural mind. But do them anyway! If you had insight into the spirit realm, you’d see they’re far more important than you think.

Open God’s Word anew today. Come before Him with expectancy of a fresh revelation of the Scripture and commit to Him to follow it up with actions of obedience. Be a doer of God’s revelations and not a hearer only and your river will never run dry.

Plan of Salvation read acts 2:38