Jacob’s obedience was immediately reciprocated by God’s approval
of his action. So verse 9 we read that God appeared to him and blessed him. Like
what Abraham, his grandfather had experienced, God changed his name. Remember
his grandfather’s original name Abram meaning exalted father, was changed to
Abraham, father of all nations. So now we see Jacob being renamed Israel. He
was no longer a cheat or conniver but one who had struggled with God and
prevailed. Both change of name was a symbol of their transformation. Their
character and destiny were changed. True to his name, Abraham did indeed become
the father of many nations. Israel, having gone through much, found that indeed
God had been dealing with him. He was now honed so God appeared to him to validate
him in the Promised Land.
We also see that in both the situations, when God invoked His
blessings on them, the name used of God was El Shaddai, the God Almighty. This name
is a symbol of the absolute power and sovereignty of God. The same El Shaddai,
who blessed Abraham years ago recorded in Genesis 17:1, was also the Almighty God
who now blessed Israel. In verses 11-12 we
are given a third similarity. It is found in the content of the blessing. Like
Abraham’s blessing, God also promised Israel fruitfulness, a great nation and a
land. Here we see a rehashed of God’s promise made to Abraham and Isaac. He
now also promised the same to Israel. From him, God promised, would also come
kings. And we know that the ultimate King from the line of David, from the tribe
of Judah, is Jesus Christ, the King of all kings and Lord of all lords.
Jacob, now reaffirmed as Israel, a name he was first given at Peniel, did what seemed to be most obvious. Verses 14-15 said, “Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He had spoken with him, a pillar of stone, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. So Jacob named the place where God had spoken with him, Bethel.” In addition to the original altar he had set here when he was a youth, was the wine offering. Israel had given a new meaning to Bethel. This second time his consecration and devotion offered was much richer and deeper. The experience Jacob went through in some ways do reflect our journey. We can all recall the fervor we experienced when we first acknowledged Christ’s Lordship over our life. Then with time that initial fervor waxed and waned when we have to struggle with the dual nature in us, the new one made in Christ and the old given through Adam. Many of us would have struggled agonizingly to deal with the residual nature inherited from Adam’s fall. When we finally come to a point when we will feel the full import of God’s grace, we would give him a depth of devotion we could not have given earlier. The issue we ask is: how long will it take for us to come to that point of realization? We can only make progress as we fully accept personal responsibility, connect with God and then collaborate with Him for our growth. We need to do this daily with His limitless grace.
Jacob, now reaffirmed as Israel, a name he was first given at Peniel, did what seemed to be most obvious. Verses 14-15 said, “Jacob set up a pillar in the place where He had spoken with him, a pillar of stone, and he poured out a drink offering on it; he also poured oil on it. So Jacob named the place where God had spoken with him, Bethel.” In addition to the original altar he had set here when he was a youth, was the wine offering. Israel had given a new meaning to Bethel. This second time his consecration and devotion offered was much richer and deeper. The experience Jacob went through in some ways do reflect our journey. We can all recall the fervor we experienced when we first acknowledged Christ’s Lordship over our life. Then with time that initial fervor waxed and waned when we have to struggle with the dual nature in us, the new one made in Christ and the old given through Adam. Many of us would have struggled agonizingly to deal with the residual nature inherited from Adam’s fall. When we finally come to a point when we will feel the full import of God’s grace, we would give him a depth of devotion we could not have given earlier. The issue we ask is: how long will it take for us to come to that point of realization? We can only make progress as we fully accept personal responsibility, connect with God and then collaborate with Him for our growth. We need to do this daily with His limitless grace.
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