NAMES:
Genesis 32:24-28 NKJV
[24] Then Jacob was left alone; and a Man wrestled with him until the breaking of day. [25] Now when He saw that He did not prevail against him, He touched the socket of his hip; and the socket of Jacob’s hip was out of joint as He wrestled with him. [26] And He said, “Let Me go, for the day breaks.” But he said, “I will not let You go unless You bless me!” [27] So He said to him, “What is your name?” He said, “Jacob.” [28] And He said, “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”
Strange things happen in life to both the Believers and unbelievers alike. Things that are difficult to understand and hard to explain. Many people are doing their best in life but seem to be getting nowhere. They act and behave in certain ways that causes most people to ask, why? Jacob was like that.
He was given the name Jacob at birth because of things that happened during his birth with his twin brother Esau.
Genesis 25:24-26 NKJV
[24] So when her days were fulfilled for her to give birth, indeed there were twins in her womb. [25] And the first came out red. He was like a hairy garment all over; so they called his name Esau. [26] Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau’s heel; so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.
The name Jacob means SUPPLANTER, DECEITFUL, or simply put a CONMAN or FRAUDSTER. All through His life he was conning people (he stole his elder brother’s birthright and blessings – Genesis 25:29-34 & 27:1-40) and being conned himself by his own uncle, Laban (Genesis 29 & 30).
If for reasons difficult to explain, you find your name impeding your progress in life, do something about it. Nabal was another man whose name affected him. Though he was very rich he behaved foolishly just as his name meant.
I Samuel 25:25 NKJV
[25] Please, let not my lord regard this scoundrel Nabal. For as his name is, so is he: Nabal is his name, and folly is with him! But I, your maidservant, did not see the young men of my lord whom you sent.
Another person who was saved from a wrong name impeding his life was Benjamin. His father changed his name at birth when he realized his wife had given their son a bad name that could affect the rest of his life.
Genesis 35:17-18 NKJV
[17] Now it came to pass, when she was in hard labor, that the midwife said to her, “Do not fear; you will have this son also.” [18] And so it was, as her soul was departing (for she died), that she called his name Ben-Oni; but his father called him Benjamin.
Ben-Oni means son of my sorrow and Benjamin means son of the right hand. Friends, names make a huge difference. If what is happening in your life can be traced to your name, seek God to change it for you. The angel changed the name of Jacob to Israel as a blessing. May the Lord grant you the blessing of change of name and destiny in the name of Jesus. Amen!