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Jacob receives a new name, Israel

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[Genesis 32:28]

Then the man said, "Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome."

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Jacob snatched the blessing of his brother Esau and then ran away from his brother.
After 20 years, Jacob returned to his hometown.

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But Jacob was so afraid of his brother Esau. Jacob's scout brought very bad news.
"I went to your brother, Esau. He is bringing 400 soldiers to meet you."

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Upon hearing this, Jacob was very disappointed and he became so afraid.
He thought that all of his family members might be killed so he quickly gathered his people.

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Jacob divided his people into two groups. This was the plan. If Esau will attack one group, the other group was going to run for their lives. It was a very difficult situation because he might loose everything he got from 20 years of hard work.

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Then, Jacob prayed to God earnestly. "God of my Grandfather Abraham, God of my father Isaac, I remember God telling me that I will peacefully return to my home. I am not worthy to receive all the grace and love you have given to me. When I first crossed the Jordan River, I only had a stick with me. But now, I have lots of property, which I can even divide into two. Please save me from my brother Esau. I am afraid that even my children and my wives will be hurt. Has not my God told me, 'I will give you grace. I will make your children countless as the sand of the sea.'"

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Among his properties, Jacob chose the good things to give to his brother Esau. He tried to change his brother Esau's heart through giving gifts so he sent gifts three times at three different hours. Then Jacob sent his wives and children to bring the property and cross the ford of Jabbok first.

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But only Jacob did not cross the ford of Jabbok. Jacob was deep in thought. When it was the middle of the night, one person attacked Jacob. Jacob wrestled with him with all of his power. They wrestled for the whole night.

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The person who wrestled with Jacob realized that he could not defeat Jacob so he touched the socket of Jacob's hip and he started to limp. Jacob realized that the person he was wrestling with was a person sent by God. So he held him even stronger.

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That person said to Jacob. "Let me go for it is daybreak."
But Jacob said to him, "If you will not bless me, I will not let you go."

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That person asked Jacob. "What is your name?"
"I am Jacob."
"From now on, your name will no longer be Jacob but it will be Israel, for you have wrestled with God and struggled with man and have overcome."

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That person blessed Jacob in that place. God gave a new name to Jacob, which is Israel. God promised to protect and care for Jacob. God promised that no one could win over Jacob, whom God is with.

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The meaning of the word, Peniel, is God's face. Jacob gave that name to thank God for God's great grace and for looking at the face of God.

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When Jacob saw that Esau was coming, Jacob bowed down seven times on the way and asked forgiveness from Esau. God touched the heart of Esau. Esau ran to his younger brother Jacob and hugged him. They cried loudly and forgave each other therefore reconciling each other.

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Jacob received a new name from God. All the problems he feared were settled by the great grace of God. For one whole night, Jacob asked for the grace of God and then he wrestled with God so God gave this amazing grace to Jacob.

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We who believe in Jesus have become the children of God and we also have become Israel. God always stays with us like how God was together with Jacob. So, we, who have become Israel, should live bravely by believing firmly that God will settle any difficult things and all the problems that we should face.