18...NEW MAN, NEW NAME

Based on GN Chs.32-35...Read more there

The story becomes even more complicated & a little confused for awhile as strands are spun together from more than one source to weave a single account. It may help to re-visit episodes 16 & 17 if you feel you’re losing the thread at all. Another useful thing to do might be to get hold of a copy of ‘Bible Stories Retold by David Kossoff’ a very readable user-friendly resource in this field.  

Jacob continues on his way towards his rendezvous with Esau. When they near the chosen place he prudently divides his family & livestock into two parties in order to preserve one party should Esau attack the other.

During this period of playing cat & mouse Jacob camps at Bethel once more & experiences another of YHWH’s momentous appearances. This time Jacob undergoes a mysterious, mystical, & holy experience described as 'wrestling' during the night with someone who eventually reveals Himself to be YHWH Himself! Jacob doesn't appear to be overly surprised, & the outcome appears to be a draw! One way of understanding this is that Jacob is struggling in his spirit. In his dreaming his conflicted thoughts & fears & emotions are to the fore, not to mention the way his behaviour has compromised him in God's eyes & his family's. More, his coming confrontation with Esau is potentially very dangerous. How does all this fit together; his past record, & the new future God has promised him as a new & significant person. The kind of person God wants him, needs him, & is calling him to be. This is such an intense spiritual wrestling that YHWH renames Jacob ‘Israel’, most likely meaning 'God shows His strength' or words to that effect.

Jacob eventually meets Esau & the two make their peace. Not long after, Rachel dies giving birth to their last child, Benjamin, & is buried at Bethlehem. Jacob has had six sons by Leah, two by Rachel, and two by each of two slave girls. As usual the girls are air-brushed from the story as insignificant! As the story unfolds further, Jacob & Rachel's elder son, Joseph, will figure largest in the family's adventures. Their younger son, Benjamin, will play a lesser role involving Joseph, whom God will use in a seemingly roundabout way to provide food for many people during a severe & widespread famine that will later strike the whole area. But that's another story... Next time, 19: Ding Dong Bell

Question: Does our name - given or surname - have significance for us?