What Is Your Name? Series

What is your Name?

We are looking at life changing Questions asked by God.

Where are you? Who said you were naked? Why are you mad at me? Why are you laughing?

Today we are looking at: What is your Name?

The importance of a name can easily be understood when we look back to the early 1980’s. A new revolutionary diet control candy hit the market.

The candy was gaining popularity nationwide and was growing in sales. Then suddenly without warning the revolutionary diet candy was no longer popular. Being shunned by people everywhere.

The name of the candy was AYDS and when the AIDS epidemic started gaining notice, the candy quickly lost its national appeal.

This reminds us of the importance of a name.

Proverbs 22:1 A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold.

Because there is something about a name immediately Jacob went form being sorrow and pain to being associated with honor, power, and authority simply because of his name.

Text: Genesis 32: 24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.

25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob’s thigh was out of joint as he wrestled with him.

26 And he said Let me go for the day breaketh And he said I will not let thee go except thou bless me.

27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said Jacob.

28 And he said Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed

29 And Jacob asked him, and said Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.

30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved

31 And as he passed over Penuel the sun rose upon him, and he halted upon his thigh

Jacob started life in a struggle to steal another persons rights.

Genesis 25: 26 And after that came his brother out and his hand took hold on Esau’s heel; and his name was called Jacob

27:27-29 – Jacob stole his brothers birth right.

27:43-44 – Jacob has to run for his life.

Jacob’s MAD at God.

God didn’t do things HIS way … the way Jacob wanted. The birthright didn’t bring him instant success.

He had deceived Isaac his own father, with his mothers help.

He ended up running from his family to another country and there he was himself was deceived by his kinsman.

Jacob was on his way home and he was getting ready to see his brother Esau the next day

we find Jacob in the middle of a crisis.

His brother vowed to kill him, was on his way to meet him and that scared Jacob. Jacob was worried.

He was probably like some of us, pacing the floor by his self and worrying.

Wondering how he was going to get himself out of this situation.

The Bible tells us that he prayed and asked God to help him.

Sounds like you and I today.

We do something that gets us into trouble and then we beg God to get us out.

God help me, I know I am not worthy of your love and your mercy but please help me get through this situation.

Jacob is pacing wondering, praying, thinking, feeling sorry for his self, scared wrestling with his emotions and in the midst of all that emotional wrestling he began to wrestle with an Angel.

Out of nowhere there appeared an Angel, the Bible does not tell us how he got there it just tells us they started to wrestle with each other.

He wrestled with this Angel. He would not stop. He would not give up. He would not let go. He wrestled as if he were wrestling with his life. He was in distress. He was in need of something.

The Angel hit Jacob on his side, "Let me go for the day breakth." He said.

Jacob responded "I will not let thee go, except thou bless me."

"Hey" Jacob was saying, "I am in need here. I need to something from you, I will not let you go until I get what I need from you."

Jacob was being persistent.

Jacob realizes that it’s really GOD that he’s wrestling. Jacob is now just holding on … he’s no longer wrestling. Jacob is learning an important LESSON.

You don’t get anywhere by resisting, and struggling, and wrestling with God. The only way you can get anywhere with God, is by yielding, surrendering, and holding on to God. When you get to this place, you’re ready to trust God.