And he said unto him, what is thy name? And he said Jacob. Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and men; and has prevailed. Genesis 32:28
He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; to him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone; and in the stone, a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it,
Revelation 2:17
The name Jacob means”supplanter.” According to Webster’s dictionary, supplant is a verb, it means to take the place of another as through force, scheming, strategy, or the -like. Is this not what Jacob did with Esau, his brother, when Esau was nigh to death, due to hunger, and Jacob bartered food in exchange for the birthright of the firstborn? (Genesis 25:29-34) However, when Jacob, wrestled with the Angel of the Lord, he was at a crossroads in his life. The Lord made it clear that the blessing of Abraham and Isaac was also upon him. In addition, he believed his life was in peril, because his past sins had finally caught up with him, for he was preparing to meet Esau his brother whom he had defrauded. Jacob desperately needed favor from the Lord, and the Lord gave him a new name; Israel.
A new name means a new identity and a new destiny for the individual and their future generations. Jacob’s seed was once known as the “sons of Jacob,” but after Jacob’s transformation, became known as the children of Israel. Now do you see why it is important for you to be saved, and for you to live holy? My brothers and sisters, many of us are still enslaved to the “sins of our fathers” because we are not letting God do the work which is necessary so that we can live victoriously as new creatures in Christ Jesus. There is a new name written down in glory that belongs to you. Claim it! Live holy! Trust God! Be a victor not a victim!
- By Brother Mark Johnson