Jacob, or is it Israel? (Gen 32:22-32)

Once Abram was renamed to Abraham (Gen 17:4), he never referred to as Abraham again in the rest of the Bible except for 2 references that speak of his name being changed from Abram to Abraham (1 Chron 1:27, Neh 9:7).

In Gen 32:28, God renames Jacob to Israel.

We don’t truly see ourselves until first we see the Lord. “What is your name?” (Gen 32: 27, nkjv) was the question that forced Jacob to confess his true self—“Jacob, the schemer.” Once he faced himself and confessed his sin, Jacob could be changed. God gave him a new name—“Israel, prince with God” or “a God-governed man.” The way to have power with God is to be broken by God. God also gave him a new beginning and a new power as he began “walking in the Spirit” and not in the flesh. This was illustrated by a new walk, for now Jacob limped. He had been broken by God, but his limp was a mark of power and not weakness. Verse 31 indicates the dawning of a new day, as the sun rose and Jacob limped out to meet Esau— with God’s help! 

Wiersbe, W. W. (1993). Wiersbe’s expository outlines on the Old Testament (Ge 32:1). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books

Yet, Jacob is still referred to and called Jacob, even after God gave him his new name.

In 35:10 God renames him again to Israel, yet for the rest of the Bible, he is still referred to as both Israel and Jacob.  Why?

It’s like we’re never able to forget that Jacob was a deceiver – a schemer.

When God forgives our sin and changes us, isn’t it permanent?

Did Jacob find his identity in the name he had built (schemed) for himself, and therefore never forgot who he used to be?

Let’s talk.

Faith

OK.  You know we sleep to the New Testament playing on my MP3 player 24×7.  Every day, I wake up to a new passage.  Today I woke up to the MP3 player playing Mark 11 and it captured me this morning.  So, that’s what I studied.  IT IS RICH…  Here is just SOME of the greatness of this chapter.

Mark 11:12-14

Jesus curses a fig tree because there is no fruit on it; and rightfully so.  Did you catch the end of verse 13 where it says “… for it was not the season for figs.“  Clue #1: This isn’t about a Jesus taking it out on a fig tree because he was hungry.  The end of verse 14 provides Clue #2 where it says, “… and the disciples heard it.“   OK.  I think Jesus was setting them up for a lesson, which comes “later”, when we get to verses 20-26.

Mark 11:20-26

The next morning the fig tree is dried up from the roots (Clue #3: OK… even Roundup doesn’t kill a fig tree overnight - something supernatural is going on here).  When Peter notices (Yeah Peter!) Jesus lays it on them.


22 So Jesus answered and said to them, “Have faith in God. 23 For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. 24  Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them.

25 “And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. 26 But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”

OK.  Quick Greek lesson.  Faith (v22) = pistis, which means to “believe to a complete trust.”  Doubt (v23 “does not doubt”) = diakrinomai, which means “judge, or to judge there is a difference.”  Heart (v23) = kardia, which means “inner self, including: the volition, the mind, the desires, etc., though the facility of the intellect may be slightly more emphasized.” Believe (v23) = pisteuo, which is “faith, believe to the extent of complete trust.” Says (v23) = laleō , which implies a literal breaking of the sound waves, to speak aloud.  Received (v24) = lambano, “to take hold of, grasp, grab, acquire.”

I’m not advocating a “name it and claim it” mentality, because the Scripture is also clear that the Lord will give us the desire of our hearts – meaning when we are close to him, in intimate fellowship with Him, our desires will be planted in us by Him.  This means we won’t be asking for a new Lexus, or a million dollars, or any self-centered, self-pleasuring thing.  We will want what He wants and our prayers will come into agreement with His heart.

What I do think this passage, and what Jesus was trying to teach the disciples, is this.  Our mind is the key to our belief and ultimately our faith.   Clearly, “doubt” in this passage is the antithesis of “faith” – in this passage.   When I unpacked “doubt,” it is very clearly dealing with the mind – “to judge”, or “to judge there is a difference.”  That says to me that my mind is evaluating what’s coming out of my mouth (aka, my prayer) with what it believes and measuring up any discrepancy, or difference.

The second key for me, comes in verses 25-26.  An odd place, at the surface, to throw in a seemingly unrelated statement.  But Jesus does not throw down random thoughts.  These are very related.  For the sake of brevity, unforgiveness affects our prayers.  Its related to the previous thoughts.  If I haven’t forgiven someone, then when I pray to Father,  my mind (my “heart”) is constantly evaluating the truth of it all.  If I haven’t or can’t forgive someone, then the truth of God forgiving me is something my heart can’t receive, and if God hasn’t forgiven me, then how can I pisteuo that He will hear – much less answer – my prayers?   This is when my heart diakrinomai (doubts).

What then is the significance of “says” in verse 23?  Again, for brevity, and I may write another blog later on this, it has to be audible.  I know I am way too guilty of praying silently, quietly, and in my Spirit – not always with my tongue, aloud, audibly.  I believe there is significance to the implications of the word laleo.  Jesus cursed the fig tree (which remember was NOT in season) aloud (the disciples heard it) because there is power in our words and in our audible prayers.  This is going to require some more digging into…

I’m sorry for the length, but breakfast with Papa was GOOOOD this morning!

Daddy, you are SO good.  Thank you for your Word.  Thank you for time with me this morning.  May the truth of your Word and the truth of your examples sink deeply into my heart today, so that I will not doubt in my heart, so that I will not judge there to be a difference in what I say and what I know about You.

Our God is Good

OK, 2 chronicles 12 Rehoboam is bacing to forsaking the Lord, or is he humbling himself.  It all gets so confusing.  In ch 11 Rehoboam listens to God, obeys Him and ends up strengthenig himself and getting all of the real followers of God to come over to Jerusalem.  Now in ch 12 it starts with “It came to pass, after Rehoboam had established his kingdom, that he forsook the law of the Lord.”  So, God sends the holy man to tell Rehoboam that he is going to be delivered into his enemey’s hands.  At this point Rehoboam falls on his knees and says “The Lord is righteous.”

And God says paraphrase “OK, since you’re humbling yourself I won’t let your enemy destroy you.  Instead you’ll become his servant.  Now maybe you can see that it is better to serve me than to be a servant for other kingdoms.”  WHAT?  This looks like a kid caught in the act and then yelling I’m sorry; I’m sorry; I didn’t mean to.  Rehoboam doesn’t appear repentent, he appears not to want to die.  And yet, God forgives him again, and provides some correction.

Too often we hear ignorant, or uneducated, people talking about God as this guy wanting to smite us all until Jesus shows up and says hey wait, my blood has covered this Dad.  Let’s give them mercy.  Well, this is pre-Jesus’ death and resurrection.  (I’d say it was pre-Jesus, but in the beginning was the Word…)  God is so good that He won’t even wipe out the ones who deserve it. 

I believe that this is a pattern we must avoid.  Obey; things are good; get prideful and start thinkng we’re doing it all; God lifts His protection; we say I’m sorry; we humble ourselves and obey; things are good; get prideful…  This circle is not worth going around.  Hear, believe and obey is a much better way.

Papa, I humble myself today.  I submit everything I am to you.  I thank you for your goodness.  I thank you that, even though I deserve death, you offer forgiveness.  I pray, Father, that you will help me to live a life fully submitted to you and your will.  Give me eyes to see and ears to hear that  might serve you in every way possible today.  I love you, Daddy.  I thank you for allowing me the opportunity to come into your presence and worship this morning.