Genesis 32:28 records Jacob, the son of Isaac, who was the son of Abraham, having his name changed to Israel.  Why?  The text tells us it is, “because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.”  What a prophetic word, with a promise. 

The context of the passage shows us that it was Jacob who wrestled the angel and won, but the message from the angel and name Israel takes on much more theological significance than we may typically think.  To understand this more it will be helpful to take a macro view of the Israelites heritage through the Old Testament.  

Moses and Elijah are two Old Testament heroes of the faith who were worn out by the lack of faith and depravity possessed by God’s chosen people.  In 1 Kings 19:10 Elijah communicates his plight to the Lord of how the Israelites have rejected God’s covenant (Mosaic) and put the prophets to death.  Elijah saw himself as next in line the line of fire and was wondering where hope for Israel was to be found.  God replied that he had reserved seven thousand in Israel. (1 Kings 19:18) 

Genesis 12:1-3 (NIV)

The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your country, your people and your father’s household and go to the land I will show you.  I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing.  I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you.”

Genesis 13:14-15 (NIV)

The LORD said to Abram after Lot had parted from him, “Lift up your eyes from where you are and north and south, east and west.  All the land that you see I will give to you and your offspring forever.”

Genesis 15:18-20 (NIV)

 On that day the LORD made a covenant with Abram and said, “To your descendants I give this land, from the river of Egypt to the great river, the Euphrates-the land of the Kenites, Kenizzites, Kadmonites, Hittites, Perizzites, Rephaites, Amorites, Canaanites, Girgashites and Jebusites.”

Lately I have been spending time in the Bible reading the story of Abraham.  I have heard and known the gist of the story of Abraham going to sacrifice his son Isaac, but in my reading I was struck by the level of faith and obedience Abraham exercised in this encounter with God.

In Genesis 22:1 God calls out to Abraham, and his response is “Here I am.”  Abraham’s response shows how ready he was to do whatever God was calling him to do.  He was fully surrendered to the call.  Such a call is reminiscent of the call of the prophet Isaiah, and Samuel as a little boy. Isaiah the prophet responded to God’s call in Isaiah 6:8 with, “Here am I.  Send me!”

As a young boy Samuel thought the call of God was the priest Eli calling out to him from another room.  Samuel goes to Eli and says, “Here I am; you called me.” (1 Sam. 3:8)  Samuel went through this routine three times before Eli recognizes it is God calling Samuel.  When Samuel hears God’s fourth call, he responds with total surrender, recognizing the voice of the Lord, by saying, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”  Without knowing what God’s call would be, Abraham, Samuel, and Isaiah are ready to do the will of the Father.