From Bethel to Peniel: How God Transformed Jacob to Israel

Trevor S. Ferguson

February 5, 2012

Genesis 32:22-30 (KJV)
²² And he rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two women servants, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford Jabbok.
²³ And he took them, and sent them over the brook, and sent over that he had.
²⁴ And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
²⁵ And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
²⁶ And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
²⁷ And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
²⁸ And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
²⁹ And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
³⁰ And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.

INTRODUCTION

It is always good to be in the house of God. Regardless of the specific role or function we play or the position we are in, it is better to be in the house of God than anywhere else. We recall and affirm psalmist statement in Psalm 84:10 “I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness”.

It is important to note however that it is possible to be in the house of God and not be fully submitted to God. Paul in his letter to the Romans writes to persons who were members of the church, admonishing them to present their bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God and that they should be transformed by the renewing of the minds. It is possible to be in the house of God and not be transformed!!

Today I want us to look at the story of Jacob as he journeys from Bethel (the house of God) to Peniel (the face God) and to see how God transformed him from Jacob (supplanter/trickster) to Israel (one who prevails with God). My vision tonight is that God will transform some Jacobs to Israel and so bring the glory to his church.

EXPOSITION

Jacob’s story begins in Genesis 25. The biblical account records that at the time of his birth, Jacob’s hand took hold of his brother’s heel, hence his name, which means 'heel snatcher' or 'supplanter'. Early in the narrative  we see where Jacob took advantage of Esau’s hunger in order to persuade him to give up his birth right for a bowl of pottage (lentil soup). Later we again see Jacob, following the instructions of his mother deceiving his father in order to obtain the paternal blessings. These actions confirmed the character denoted by his name – one who will trick or deceive even in the pursuit of good things. As a result of the latter deception Jacob had to flee to his uncle Laban in order to escape Esau’s wrath. It is on this journey that his transformation begins.

While on his journey the Lord appeared to Jacob in a dream (Genesis 28:10-22). God promised to give Jacob the land in which he was currently sleeping and that his descendants will be a blessing to all the families of the earth. Jacob called the name of the place Bethel saying this is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven. He erected a pillar as a memorial of the encounter and pledged to give to God a tithe of all his blessings. Jacob continued on his journey to Haran, found Laban, met and fell in love with Rachel, married Leah and Rachel, had children and stayed in Haran 20 years.

It is noteworthy that ‘Haran means’ ‘mountainous country’; it also mean ‘parched’. Haran, the man, was the son of Terah and brother of Abraham; he died before his father and his son Lot ended up in Sodom and had to flee.  Hence we could infer that Haran was the ‘land of trouble’. We note also that when Rebecca proposed to send Jacob to Haran she expected him to stay but a few days (Gen 27:44). Thus Jacob, being in trouble, fled to the land of trouble and spent 20 years! God had to tell Jacob - It’s time to get out of Haran!

As Jacob journeyed from Haran the scriptures tell us that the angel s of God met him. He called the place Mahanaim, saying this is God’s host. This was Jacob’s third heavenly encounter but his transformation was still not complete. We see him still in fear of Esau, distressed, and planning strategies of appeasement – sending gifts to Esau, dividing the family into groups and putting his favourites Rachel and Joseph in positions where they were the least likely to get hurt if conflict arose.

Jacob’s real transformation came when he realized that he could not depend on his wit or strategies to get him out of his troubles but that he must call on his God! He then began to call out to God in earnest prayer (Gen 32:9-12). When he had finished his strategizing, God stepped in. The scripture says, Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day! The bible does not reveal the identity of the man here, but Jacob later stated that he had seen God face to face, so were understand this to be a theophany (i.e. an appearance of God in human form). As Jacob wrestled with the man it appears that none was gaining control of the contest; as the day began to break the man touched the hollow of Jacob’s thigh so that it became dislocated (out of joint). Despite this however Jacob hung on to the man. This was one battle that Jacob was not going to lose! The man then asked him to let go, but Jacob countered – I will not let you go until you bless me! Jacob was asked; what is your name? After Jacob responded the man replied you will no longer be called Jacob but be would called Israel, signifying he had struggled with God and prevailed.

The name Israel is for Jacob a redemptive name.  According to Adam Clarke’s commentary one meaning of the name Israel is “the man who saw God”. This is consistent with the name that Jacob gave to the place of this encounter. Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, meaning “I have seen God face to face and my soul is redeemed”. From that day forward Jacob was a new man. No more trickery, no more deception, he was now a prince who had wrestled with God and prevailed.

APPLICATION

We note that Jacob had been to the house of God; he had received the blessing of God; he had seen the host of God but he was still not changed. It was not until he came face to face with God that he was changed!

The process of change, the transformation, came through the tenacious wrestling encounter that Jacob had at Peniel. Somebody needs to have a Peniel experience today!

You might have been in the church for a very long time or you may have come to the house of God for the very first time. God wants to transform your life today. The transformation will come through a face to face encounter with God. You must come to him in earnest prayer. Bare your all before Him and let Him know that you desperately need him. Hold on to Him and refuse to let Him go. I am sure he will come through and bless you.

Today is your Peniel opportunity. Today is your day for transformation. Today is your day of change. As God was able to change Jacob to Israel, He can change you today.

RECEIVE YOUR CHANGE!!