This weekend, one of our lectionary readings is a story of encounter, wrestling, and transformation. It’s the story of Jacob’s name being changed to Israel. As you may recall, it is Jacob’s sons for whom the twelve tribes of the nation of Israel would eventually be named; but this story takes place before Joseph and technicolor dream coat, generations before enslavement in Egypt, and long before the emergence of the nation of Israel.
This story feels like a notable story to attend to if your ever feel plagued with doubts or questions, or feel haunted by your past or broken relationships, or if you ever feel unworthy or that something you’ve done has disqualified you from the love of God… this story is for you.
Jacob was the younger of twin boys born to Rebecca and Isaac, son of Abraham. Jacob grew up to be a bit of a scoundrel. He intentionally deceived his dad so he could steal what was rightfully meant for his brother. He stole both his brother’s birthright and tricked his dad into blessing him instead of blessing Esau. He stole livestock from his uncle. And as if theft and fraud wasn’t bad enough, rather than staying to face the music for his actions, he kept running away. A somewhat dubious guy… even his name – Jacob – meant “deceiver,” “supplanter,” or “one who usurps.”
So with his character and reputation in mind we come to the thirty-second chapter of Genesis. Something is changing within Jacob. He begins by making peace with his uncle, then he sends word to his brother arranging to meet, followed by sending gifts. Finding out that his brother is on his way bringing 400 men with him, Jacob grows afraid. But this time he doesn’t run. Yet, on the eve of his first meeting with Esau since his infamous grab-n-go, Jacob can’t sleep.
Sleeping the night before any such encounter can be a challenge. Most of us have had sleepless nights in anticipation of our own momentous encounters.
In this “sleepless” story, the Lord comes to Jacob in the night. Jacob and the Lord wrestle all night long, (we’re not the only ones who have wrestled with the Lord all night). And as a new day was dawning, the wrestling ceases. Rather than running, now Jacob walks with a limp. Something is different about him. The Lord blesses him. The Lord changes his name, marking a profound season of transformation. Jacob
is renamed Israel. Once known as a deceiver from here on, he will be known as “One who wrestles with God.”
I have often taken a measure of comfort in the idea that the name given to God’s people is not “the holy one’s,” it’s not “the people of great faith,” it’s not “the people who’ve got it all together;” rather, God’s people are named for wrestling with God.
People of God wrestle with God!
Fast forward about 1,700 years and the risen Christ meets his remaining disciples on a mountain back up in Galilee. Jesus is about to commission his followers. Mathew includes an important note that is familiar to Jesus’ followers then, as it is now… in Matthew 28:17 the text says, that when the disciples saw Jesus “they worshiped him, but some still doubted.” Worship and doubt coexisting.
Worship and doubt dancing together in a people who wrestle with God. We are not a people who have it all figured out; not individually and not in our faith communities. Rather, we are a people full of questions, fears, memories, and doubts… and God meets us in those places… and God blesses us… and God commissions us… and as if that weren’t enough, God gives us a new identity as “beloved.”
Peace, dwight
