Change of Name, Change of Destiny

By Venessa Holtzhausen

Gen 32:27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
Gen 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.

This chapter is the story of Jacob that wrestled with a ‘man’ ( שׁי ִא(, but in verse 30 he declares that he saw God face to face and yet lived.

In this wrestling, Jacob asked to be blessed. He was adamant, that he will not let the man go, unless he blessed him, thus Jacob also acknowledge that this man was in the position to bless. Shouldn’t we also take hold of God’s promises and stand before the LORD, reminding  Him day and night of His promises, until He blessed us!

2 Co 1:20 For as many promises as are of Elohim, in Him they are Yes, and in Him Aměn, to the esteem of Elohim through us.

But then something interesting happened. Before Jacob’s blessing, this man asked his name. You see, his name had a negative connotation. Esau, his brother declared it. Thus, Jacob’s name changed to Israel.

He had a name change as well as a change of destiny.

From בֹקֲעַיJacob = “heel holder” or “supplanter”

To

“prevails God = “Israel יִשְׁ רָ אֵ ל

Israel comes from ה ָר ָש]sarah ] and ל ֵאel; he will rule as God!

In this we can also see the destiny of Israel. Israel will rule!

Amen!