Verse of the Day 5/11

Through the Bible - Jonah 1-4, Matthew 5:27-48

 

Good morning,

A while back we had considered the event in Genesis where Jacob wrestled with God prior to meeting his brother Esau.  Jacob wouldn't let go until God would bless him.  God blessed him with a new name Israel, and as J. M. Boice pointed out it can literally be interpreted as God prevailed, or has overcome.

 

Several times in the Bible we see examples where someone is given a new name signifying a change in the person.  In some of those occasions, they at times are referred to by their former names, primarily when they fall back to their old ways, their "old" lack of faith.  Peter is one example where Jesus calls him Simon in John 21.

 

The same thing happened back in the book of Genesis.  Jacob was given a new name, but in Genesis 45 he is nearing the end of his life.  He is overcome by feelings of loss and disappointment in his life, he fears for his grown children and still mourns the loss of Joseph. 

 

Gen 45:26 And they told him, "Joseph is still alive, and he is ruler over all the land of Egypt." And his heart became numb, for he did not believe them. 27 But when they told him all the words of Joseph, which he had said to them, and when he saw  the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him, the spirit of their father Jacob revived. 28 And Israel said, "It is enough; Joseph my son is still alive. I will go and see him before I die."   ESV
Notice that when Jacob realized that his long lost, (and presumed dead), son was alive, his spirit revived.  Hope was restored, and Israel, whose name means God rules, God commands, overcomes or prevails, could look forward in hope and find peace before he would die.

 

Boice writes, "When Jacob is in charge we get Jacob, a whining, self pitying, complaining type of man.  When God overcomes, we get Israel, a true child of God.  It is as Israel that this man draws himself together, rises to his full height, collects his numerous family, and sets out to see his son Joseph before he dies."

 

How many of us are at least somewhat like that.  God had done something in our life, increased our faith in and through a trial or trials, but we fall back or backslide to being our old whining, self pitying self again.  You get the picture of someone being slumped over by the cares of life.  If that is you, call out to God, wrestle with Him again.  He will prevail and overcome, again, in your life and can give you the strength to rise to your full height, your full potential, again.

 

Ps 51:10-12
God, make a fresh start in me,
shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Don't throw me out with the trash,
or fail to breathe holiness in me.
Bring me back from gray exile,
put a fresh wind in my sails!
The Message

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Gen 45:25-28

 

They left Egypt and went back to their father Jacob in Canaan. When they told him, "Joseph is still alive — and he's the ruler over the whole land of Egypt!" he went numb; he couldn't believe his ears. But the more they talked, telling him everything that Joseph had told them and when he saw the wagons that Joseph had sent to carry him back, the blood started to flow again — their father Jacob's spirit revived. Israel said, "I've heard enough — my son Joseph is still alive. I've got to go and see him before I die."  The Message