Genesis 32:7
Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks and herds and camels, into two camps,
Jacob's name is changed to Israel in our passage today. Obviously there is some significance in this. The name change now connects the family with the nation we know today. It ties together Jacob's (Israel's) twelve sons as the twelve tribes of Israel. It shows God's grace, also, however. The name Jacob means, deceiver. As we read about Jacob's life, we can't help but see how he lived up to his name. Even when he was returning to his home land and would have to run into his brother, you can see his deception. He divides his family into two groups, so as to deceive his brother into thinking he has one and the other would escape (32:7-8). He sends out waves of gifts for his brother (32:13-21), hoping to deceive his brother further and persuade him to not kill Jacob for how Jacob had stolen both his birthright and his birth blessing. Jacob was the master of deception (Look how his son's copied it with the story in chapter 34 about Dianah and the Shechemites. It is difficult to keep our character from falling into the lives of our children). But, the name Israel means, he struggles with God. When Jacob struggled with God and lived it show God's grace in his life. God only wounded him (touched his hip) to be a reminder to him that God could have killed Jacob that night. God's grace and mercy in our lives is a great thing. He changes the very nature of who we are when He applies it to our lives ... even if He has to wound us in the process. Big Idea: God's mercy and grace in our lives is the only thing that allows us to change the name that others know us by. Most people today don't look at the nation of Israel (he who struggles with God and lives) as Jacob (the deceiver). God's grace and mercy changed his entire legacy.
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