Jacob Wrestles With God

Genesis chapter 32 verses 24-30. This left Jacob all alone in the camp and a man came and wrestled with him until dawn. When a man saw that he couldn't win the match struck Jacob's hip and knocked it out of joint at the socket. Then the man said let me go for it is dawn. But Jacob panted I will not let you go unless you bless me. What is your name the man asked he replied Jacob your name will no longer be Jacob the man told him it is now Israel because you have struggled with both God and men and have won. What is your name Jacob asked him why do you ask the man replied then he blessed Jacob there. Jacob name the place peniel  "face of God" for he said I have seen God face to face yet my life has been spared. In Genesis chapter 33 verse 20 he named the place El Elohe Israel, which means God the God of Israel. I absolutely love this picture of Jacob wrestling with God. Some Bible scholars believe that this angel Jacob wrestled with was a pre-incarnate Jesus. I do believe Jacob wrestled with Jesus. I find it so awesome that God changes Jacob's name. Jacob was named heel catcher or schemer or sneaky one....and after his enounter with God his name is changed to Israel. Israel means governed by God. Jesus also changes the names of men. Peter's name was Simon, Jesus changed him into Peter. Saul of Tarsus had his name changed after an encounter with Jesus as well... Saul's name was changed to Paul. In the book of Revelation we see that will we go to heaven and we will have new names. God loves us so much that when we have an encounter with him we are never the same. He not only changes us in our inner man in our innermost spirit but he also changes our name. In heaven we will have new names......I can't wait to find out what Jesus will call me in heaven. I find it so beautiful that God loves Jacob so much he waits until Jacob is all alone to have the special encounter with him. Jacob's family is away Jacob children are away....Jacobs servants and animals are all away and Jacob is all alone. No distractions....now God meets with him face to face. The same is true of us. When we get alone with God in our prayer closet in morning devotions God meets with us in a special way in an intimate way. Jesus often woke up early in the morning to depart alone to pray.....in this busy world we live in we must find time to get alone with God.I love Jacob's persistence. He said I will not let you go unless you bless me in Genesis 32 verse 26....we need to be that same way with God in our prayers and in our reading of his word. We need to wait on the Lord, panting, struggling until we finally surrender and God touches our hip and takes it out of place. God will allow areas of our life to cause us to limp just as Jacob did....all of his days....that is a good thing. For when we are weak that is when we are strong (in Him)  May we put off the old self, the Jacob that rises up in us and may we surrender everything to God and be people that are "Israel" governed by God and live lives that are totally sold out and dependent on God. May we savor those alone times with God where He changes us!!