What's in a name? Why Jacob’s Walk?

Sometimes names are inescapable.  In my youth, when I was playing on the playground or swimming at the pool, if I did something I wasn’t supposed to be doing, I could expect to hear my mother’s voice shouting my name in my direction.  She would typically use at least my first and middle names, if not also my last.  My name was an incontrovertible identifier when I was misbehaving.  Sometimes my name could also be an identifier associated with positive deeds, and when spoken by those rewarding such behaviors, it was an encouragement both to me and to my parents.

So why Jacob?  The Jacob first identified in the Bible was the son of Isaac, which made him the grandson of Abraham, founder of the Jewish nation.  You might know Jacob better as the brother of his twin, Esau, the fellow who sold him his birthright as firstborn for a pot of soup.  Jacob seemed to have a way with bending the truth.  He was a superhero at conniving his way to get what he wanted, not stopping to worry at the time about what it might cost him later.  When he was born just after Esau, the Bible records Jacob came out of the womb holding the heel of his brother.  (Genesis 25:26)  As a result of the circumstances of his birth and his behavior in life, the name Jacob (יַעֲקֹב) has gained the meaning of “one who would reach” (or over-reach) to get what he thought should rightfully be his.  Unfortunately, it took Jacob a long time to realize that what we “have” is specifically chosen for us by God Himself.  Our physical attributes, our parentage, our location on the planet, and even our faith heritage is all according to God’s plan for our lives.

Jacob’s Waterloo, if I can call it that, took place one starry night later in his life as he waited to be confronted by his brother, Esau. (Genesis 32:24)  Jacob feared that all he had might be taken by Esau, including his own life.  As he waited for morning, the Bible says a “man” found Jacob and they wrestled.  All night.  Though he was the weaker one, Jacob just wouldn’t give up the fight.  The man (God in some form – it gets a bit complicated to explain) finally touched Jacob and knocked his hip out of joint.  That got Jacob’s attention, and when God asked him what his name was, Jacob actually said, “Jacob”.  Though the story is long and covers many chapters in the book of Genesis, Jacob had a history of claiming to be someone or something else.  Don’t some of us have that same problem?

At that moment, Jacob received the blessing of God, and a new name – Israel.  It is this conniving, irritating man who became the father of Judah (from whom came King David and Jesus), Joseph, and the other 12 “tribes” of Israel.  Jacob was now a man whose walk was different (how could it not be with a dislocated hip) and he bore a new name and future.  

Such was and is my continual encounter with God.  Having wrestled with God about my true name (and nature) before finally agreeing with Him about how sinful I am, I am now forever changed.  My walk reflects my struggle to be worthy of Him.  My name is now hidden in the perfect life and sacrifice of Jesus.  But based on who I know I used to be before Christ brought me to faith, and the behaviors I often still struggle with, it seems like “Jacob” fits me all too perfectly.  So who are you?  What will you say when God asks you, “What is your name?”

Jacob