Hear ye this, O house of Jacob, which are called by the name of Israel . . . | ||
| Isaiah 48:1 (a) | ||
| Abraham was the father of Israel, the first Jew. Called from Ur of the Chaldees, God made a new nation from him. Abraham had a son named Isaac, who had a son named Jacob. Jacob had twelve sons who became the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel. Jacob’s name, which means “heel snatcher,” or “supplanter,” was appropriate because he was one who lived by his wits - conning and tricking people. But one night, seeing no way out of his circumstances, he wrestled all night with the Angel of the Lord, saying, “I will not let You go until You bless me.” In the morning, the Lord said, “You’re no longer Jacob, but you’re going to be called Israel, which means ‘governed by God.’ You’ll no longer rely on your schemes and tricks but will cling to Me” (Genesis 32). How I want to be more Israel-like and less Jacob-like. Oh, how much Jacob is still in us. We rely upon our own abilities and personalities, our own plans and principles. But, like Jacob, we need to come to the end of ourselves and say, “Lord, You govern me.” Pastor Jon Courson | ||
