Hope in Redemption

One of the hardest things a human can do is admit their faults and repent of them. It’s easier for us to believe that sins come from outside ourselves and that we are helpless against them. We do that to run from the truth of the matter and hide our sin from . . . ourselves.

Jacob was good at hiding and surviving. He knew how to manipulate and twist people in order to get whatever he wanted from them, and it took wrestling with God in the dead of night to show him who he really was. In biblical times, names were a big deal. In Hebrew, the name Jacob means “deceiver”. In today’s passage, Jacob is forced to admit to God that this is who he truly is.

“Who, why, and what are you?” God asks this question of each of us, not because he wants to shame us, but because he wants to redeem us. When we admit our sin, come to God as we really are, and admit that we really need his help, he gives us a new identity.

This identity can only be received or claimed thanks to the cleansing of Jesus’ blood.

Yes, Jacob walked away from his wrestling match with a wound. But when it’s the Lord doing the wounding, it’s always for our good . . . even if we just can’t see it yet.

From the day that Jacob received his new name (Israel), he lived a different way, something possible only through grace.

Father, thank you for your grace that redeems me from my imperfection. Bring to the surface my sin and help me to repent and surrender my life to you. Holy Spirit, help me to fully depend on you in light of the new identity I have in Jesus.

Throughout This Day: Reflect on the meaning of the different names people use to describe God throughout Scripture (examples: Jehovah Jireh, Yahweh). Think about how these truths about God shape your own identity as his beloved child.