Jan. 15, 2021
Jacob flees from Laban as the tension between them grows. Both take turns deceiving the other, manipulating their families and livestock to gain the upper hand. As soon as Jacob escapes from Laban, he faces someone else he deceived — his brother, Esau.
The last time Jacob saw Esau, Esau wanted to kill him (Genesis 27:41). Anxious, Jacob tries everything to avoid Esau’s wrath. Jacob sends Esau gifts, divides his family into two camps, and even sneaks off alone, hoping to appease his brother.
That night, Jacob wrestles with God. Determined and desperate, Jacob refuses to leave without God’s blessing and at the end of their exchange, God changes Jacob’s name. He’s no longer Jacob, which means “He cheats” in Hebrew. God names him Israel, which translates “He strives with God.”
The encounter changes Jacob’s identity. He is no longer the deceiver, but Israel, the father of God’s people.
As Jesus gains popularity, new opposition to His ministry emerges. First, John the Baptist sends messengers to ask if Jesus was the Messiah they’d been hoping for.
John’s circumstances did not match his expectations. Jesus replies with a gentle rebuke by quoting Isaiah 61:1, reminding John that things were unfolding exactly as God had planned.
When John’s disciples leave, Jesus turns His attention to the crowd, making sure they understand who John is and what’s unfolding around them (Matthew 11:10-15). The kingdom of heaven is advancing and they are poised to miss it.
Jesus has stronger words of judgment for cities that had witnessed his mighty works and still did not repent. Jesus recalls the judgment from God for Sodom in Genesis 19 and says that this generation is even worse for refusing him.
Finally, Jesus offers rest to those who have been crushed by the heavy weight of religious performance to try to please God. To those who put their faith in him, Jesus offers a path of discipleship that is easy and light because it connects us to God the Father.
Make It Personal
- When’s the last time you wrestled with God? What did you learn about yourself or Him through that experience?
- As you pray, ask God to forgive you for any of your own strivings and remember what Jesus said about following Him, “My yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
Learn More About Jacob’s Wrestle with God
Check out this short message from Bible Project on Jacob’s encounter with God in Genesis 32.