24 So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak.25 When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. 26 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. 28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel,[a]because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” 29 Jacob said, “Please tell me your name.” But he replied, “Why do you ask my name?” Then he blessed him there. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel,[b] saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.” 31 The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel,[c] and he was limping because of his hip. Genesis 32:22-32
My Name, Your Name
It is a funny Fight. AT the end of the fight the stranger asked for the name of Jacob and after that Jacob asked for his name. Strange! The purpose of asking was different in each case.
Didn’t God know Jacob’s name? He did. Then why ask for his name? Listen when God asks us a question He knows already the answer to, He is bringing the question and the answer to our attention. In other words He is asking Jacob to realize the change that is going to take place in his life. How his character and behaviour is going to change. He was called a name that followed him all his life, and now he will have a new identity. God changes the inside which will reflect on the outside, so I encourage you to let Him give you the true identity that He created you to be.
In Jacob’s case he asked the stranger for his name. He knew that was God. So why ask for His name? He asked for God’s name because he was in deep need for more of God, more of his touch and God said that you cannot handle more of me now. What you have now after this incident is enough to keep you going for next encounter with me. Listen God reveals Himself gradually to us through the change that He is making in your life. I encourage you not to miss this encounter with Him even when the change bruises.
