In the compelling narrative of Genesis 32:26-29, we witness one of the most transformative encounters in biblical history. Jacob, the grandson of Abraham and heir to the covenantal promises of God, finds himself in a pivotal moment of reckoning. He is alone, wrestling not merely with a man, but with God Himself. This struggle—both physical and spiritual—culminates in a profound revelation: blessings are intricately tied to identity.
Let’s revisit the scripture:
“And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 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. 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.” (Genesis 32:26-29, KJV)
At the heart of this passage is a profound spiritual principle: before Jacob could step fully into the blessing, his identity had to change.
Jacob: A Life Marked by Striving
Jacob’s life was destined for greatness even before his birth. In Genesis 25:23, God declared that “the elder shall serve the younger,” signaling that Jacob would rise above his brother Esau. Yet despite this divine pronouncement, Jacob’s journey was marred by his own striving. His name—Jacob—literally means “supplanter,” one who deceives or takes by force what belongs to another.
True to his name, Jacob lived out this identity. To secure the birthright and the blessing, he disguised himself as Esau, manipulating circumstances to obtain what was prophetically his by divine decree. Ironically, while Jacob carried the promise of God, the fullness of the blessing eluded him because his identity was not yet aligned with God’s truth.
The Wrestling: Confrontation and Transformation
Fast forward to Genesis 32, and we find Jacob on the eve of meeting Esau after many years. He is filled with fear and uncertainty, and it is here—in the solitude of the night—that he wrestles with God. This wasn’t merely a physical struggle; it was a confrontation between Jacob’s old self and the divine purpose over his life.
What’s striking is that before God could bless Jacob, He asked a simple yet loaded question: “What is your name?” This was not because God did not know his name, but because Jacob needed to confront his own identity. He needed to acknowledge who he had been—a deceiver, a manipulator, a man who had relied on his wits rather than trusting fully in God.
God’s response is pivotal: “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.” Only after this renaming does the text say, “And He blessed him there.”
The Principle: Identity Precedes Blessing
This moment reveals a timeless truth: God does not bless an identity that is misaligned with His divine purpose. Jacob’s old nature—symbolized by his name—was incompatible with the weight of the promise. To step into the fullness of what God had in store, Jacob had to undergo a fundamental transformation. His name—his identity—had to change.
We see this same principle echoed throughout scripture. Isaiah 62:2 speaks of a new name given by the mouth of the Lord, and in 2 Corinthians 5:17, Paul writes, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.” The blessing flows freely only when our identity is realigned and renewed.
What This Means for Us
Many of us, like Jacob, carry promises from God—dreams, visions, prophetic words spoken over our lives. Yet, we may find ourselves in a place where the fullness of those promises feels just out of reach. Often, the blockage isn’t the promise itself, but the identity we are clinging to. Are we still walking in old labels—defined by past mistakes, insecurities, or survival mechanisms? Are we still “Jacob” when God is calling us to become “Israel”?
The blessing rests not on who we were, but on who we become through God’s transformative power. There must be an internal shift—a shedding of the old self and a stepping into the new creation we are called to be. This is not merely about a name change but a heart change, a realignment of our identity with God’s truth.
The Prayer of Transformation
We are reminded through Jacob’s story that transformation is not something we accomplish by ourselves. It is God’s work in us, and we must be willing to yield to it. As the prayer beautifully expresses:
“Father, I thank You for this word. Thank You for the transformation that only You can give. The Bible says that if any man be in Christ, old things have passed away and all things are new. I am a new creature and this is the truth by which I live, pray, and serve You. I receive the grace to walk as the person You called me to be. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
A Final Golden Nugget
Let this truth sink deep: You might carry a promise, but if you’re still walking in an old identity—bound by your past or your mistakes—the fullness of the blessing won’t rest. The name has to change. The internal shift must happen. Hallelujah!
Further Reading:
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Isaiah 62:2
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2 Corinthians 5:17
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This is more than a story of a man who wrestled with God; it is an invitation for each of us to step into the new name, the new identity, and the fullness of blessing that God desires to pour out. May we, too, wrestle and prevail, rising up as the people God has called us to be.
