DO YOU KNOW WHY JACOB, son of Isaac, was later renamed “Israel”? Find out by reading this story from the Bible.
That same night Jacob got up … Then a man cam and wrestled with him until just before daybreak. When the man saw that he was not willing the struggle, he hit Jacob on the hip, and it was thrown out of joint. The man said,
“Let me go; daylight is coming.”
“I won’t unless you bless me, Jacob answered.
“What is your name?” the man asked.
“Jacob,” he answered.
The man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob. You have struggled with God and with men, and you have won; so your name will be Israel.”
Jacob said, “Now tell me your name.”
But he answered, “Why do you want to know my name?” Then he blessed Jacob.
Jacob said, “I have seen God face-to-face, and I am still alive”; so he named the place Peniel. The sun rose as Jacob was leaving Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip. Even today the descendants of Israel deo not eat the muscle which is on the hip joint, because it was on this muscle that Jacob was hit. (Excerpted from Genesis 32:22, 24-32, Today’s English Version)
This account on Jacob’s life illustrates what true servants of God are willing o do to attain His promised blessings. Church of Christ members are exhorted to “earnestly desire the greater gifts” (I Cor. 12:31), among which are the duties and obligations in the Church (Rom. 12:6-7). This, even if they have dangers and endure pain and suffering, the faithful church officers willingly make the sacrifices to fulfill their duties to God. For, it is their faith that nothing they do for the work of the Lord will ever become useless but will result in their receiving the great reward. (I Cor. 15:58; Phil 3:14)