Nougat 25

The name saga continues in today’s Holy Nougat

“Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”” ‭‭Genesis‬ ‭32‬:‭26‬, ‭28‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Morning dawned, and in one sense the tussle continued. This time it was verbal. Jacob and the ‘man’ were dealing with names. Not just any name, but Jacob’s name. It didn’t really add up; all Jacob desired was a blessing. What did his name have to do with anything?

I suspect you’ll argue that the man needed to know what to call Jacob, right? But if the man was unaware of Jacob’s identity, then WHY on earth did he go to Jacob to harass him in his sleep? And please don’t say, petty theft; not when Jacob had no livestock with him. Nor should you say murder – he wrestled with Jacob and from a natural perspective, Jacob was winning. Furthermore, even Jacob realized that the contender wasn’t human!

So the ghost, any ghost round and about would just happen to harass a man all night just because of being idle? Erm … the ‘man’ *knew* exactly who Jacob was. Since he knew, then the question takes on more significance. This wasn’t a casual question, especially given Jacob’s request (okay, demand). Obviously *the blessing was tied to the name*.

Now that’s a whole new world of reflection and negotiation. Was Jacob aware that his blessing was tied up with his name? If yes, was he afraid/ashamed of giving his real name to the angel? Was he proud of his name and its implications, especially since most remember supplanter, rather than blessed? More critically, did he suspect that he was about to get a new name, and that his blessing was in his new name?

When we get before God’s presence, how hard are we prepared to ‘fight’ for our blessings? What would have been our response to being asked for our name by God’s messenger? How do we feel about our birth names? Are we comfortably walking in our new names in Christ?

Lord, may we see and hear You as we seek our blessing!

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May all we seek be found in Christ