Lessons from Jacob: What is Your Name?

There are two questions in Jacob's story that, separated by years, reveal a profound change in the man answering them.

The first came in the dimness of Isaac's tent:

“Who are you, my son?”
— Genesis 27:18 ESV

Jacob stood before his earthly father, seeking a blessing.

The second came in the darkness at Penuel:

“What is your name?”
— Genesis 32:27 ESV

This time, Jacob stood face-to-face with God.

Both times, he was a son seeking a blessing, but the first time, Jacob hid behind the identity of another son.

The second time, he simply said:

“Jacob.”

Before a father who could not see him clearly, Jacob disguised himself. Face-to-face with the Father who saw him completely, there was no disguise that could mask who he really was.

Two Answers

Years earlier, Jacob had wrapped himself in Esau's identity.

His brother's clothes hung on his body. Goatskins covered his smooth hands and neck. He carried Esau's scent into his father's tent.

Isaac sensed something was wrong.

“The voice is Jacob's voice, but the hands are the hands of Esau.”
— Genesis 27:22 ESV

Still, Jacob answered:

“I am Esau your firstborn.”
— Genesis 27:19 ESV

Jacob was there to take the blessing Isaac intended for Esau. So he borrowed his brother's clothes, covered his skin, spoke his brother's name—and walked away carrying his brother's blessing.

Years later, Jacob sought a blessing again.

Only this time, there were no borrowed clothes. No goatskins. No carefully constructed disguise.

There was only Jacob, clinging to God in the darkness.

“I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
— Genesis 32:26 ESV

And God asked:

“What is your name?”

“Jacob.”

God already knew the answer. He knew the schemer, the deceiver, the man who had spent so much of his life manipulating people and circumstances to obtain what he wanted.

Nothing was hidden.

But this time, Jacob wasn't trying to take Esau's blessing. He came before God with nothing but his own name. No deception. No manipulation.

“Jacob.”

And God gave him a blessing that was his to receive.

“Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel...”
— Genesis 32:28 ESV

The old Jacob knew how to take a blessing. Israel learned how to receive one.

“What Is Your Name?”

How often do we wrap ourselves in our own versions of Esau's clothes?

We present the person we think we should be. We cover the places we would rather no one see. Perhaps we even bring that carefully polished version into the presence of God, but there is no disguise that can mask who we are before Him. He sees beneath all of it.

“What is your name?”

Jacob's answer was no longer someone else's.

“Jacob.”

This is me.

This is where I am.

This is what I cannot fix.

Here I am, clinging to You.

There is freedom in coming before God without disguise. We don't have to wear someone else's identity or grasp for someone else's blessing. Jacob came before God as Jacob and God called him Israel.

When the sun rose, Jacob would discover that an encounter with God had changed more than his name.

It changed the way he walked.

But that is the next lesson.

I Want to Walk on the Water

Continued in Lessons from Jacob, Part 4: Marked by Heaven

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