The story of Jacob is noted in Genesis 25; Jacob, using intricate double deception, deceived his brother and father and received the blessing that his father intended to give to his brother Esau.
When the story is closely examined, it is recognized that it was God's plan for Jacob to be honored above his brother. However, this knowledge led to a scheme to ensure that Jacob received the father's blessing instead of waiting on God's anointing. Bound by tradition and guided by fear, Jacob's mother believed that securing the father's blessing would establish Jacob in the plans of God.
A father's last blessing was believed in scriptural times to be a practical way of conferring legacy rights. In addition, scripture reveals some final blessings, including prophetic statements that revealed God's supernatural power at work through the men of His choosing.
I am not discrediting the value of fatherly blessings upon children, but God will always watch over His word to perform it. In attempting to use tradition to secure the promise of God in Jacob's life, the door to the spirit of deception which was already in his bloodline was open specifically in Jacob's life.
Jacob fled from Esau in fear for his life and went to live with his uncle Laban; Jacob fell in love with his cousin Rachel. He worked for her father, Laban, for seven years to obtain Rachel's hand in marriage, but then Laban substituted his older daughter, Leah, for Rachel at the wedding ceremony. Unwittingly married to Leah, this time, Jacob was at the receiving end of the deception.
It was not until after Jacob wrestled with God till daybreak that he received a name change that brought his breakthrough. Jacob became the Israel of God through which the promise to Abraham came.
God had promised Abraham to make him the father of many nations; however, Abraham and his wife Sarah had one son Issac who was Jacobs' father. Jacob had twelve sons through which the tribes of Israel were birth; when God gave Jacob the name Israel it birthed a nation and signaled the continuity of the blessings God promised.
Jacob carried a name representing deception; Jacob became the Israel of God for a Nation to be birthed and a name that changed his history.
May God give you a Name that will change your history!!
Like Jacob, would you say, "I will not let you go unless you bless me."
Are you willing to wrestle with God in prayer and fasting, in Praise and Worship until you become the Israel of God in your bloodline, in your community, in your workplace?
Declaration:
May you become the Israel of God like Jacob; may God give you a Name that Changes your history and brings reconciliation.
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