Jacob's Journey to Becoming Israel

Genesis 32:22–31 KJV 1900

And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had. And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 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. And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.

Jacob’s Solitude

Genesis 32:22–24 (KJV 1900)

And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two womenservants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok. And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.

And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

Matthew 14:23 (KJV 1900)

And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone.

Mark 1:35 (KJV 1900)

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

Hosea 12:4 (KJV 1900)

Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed:

He wept, and made supplication unto him:

He found him in Beth-el, and there he spake with us;

Jacob’s Solitude

Jacob’s Persistence

Genesis 32:25 (KJV 1900)

And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.

Hosea 12:3–4 (KJV 1900)

He took his brother by the heel in the womb,

And by his strength he had power with God:

Yea, he had power over the angel, and prevailed:

He wept, and made supplication unto him:

He found him in Beth-el, and there he spake with us;

Jacob’s Persistence

Jacob’s Transformation

Genesis 32:27–28 (KJV 1900)

And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 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.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV 1900)

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

Isaiah 62:2 (KJV 1900)

And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness,

And all kings thy glory:

And thou shalt be called by a new name,

Which the mouth of the Lord shall name.

Genesis 32:29–31 (KJV 1900)

And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there. And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh.

Hebrews 12:11 (KJV 1900)

Now no chastening for the present seemeth to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yieldeth the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby.

Jacob wrestled with God, and he came away transformed!