What is Your Name?

We all remember the story of Jacob. After he had deceived his brother and father and stolen his brother's rightful blessing, he had to flee. After many years had passed, he returned with obvious fear, afraid of his brother who had become a powerful man. The night before he was to meet his brother, he sent his family across a brook to the other side and he remained alone - and that night he wrestled with God. When Jacob said "I will not let you go unless you bless me", God said the oddest thing; "What is your name?". Now there are a lot of things I'm not sure about, but I'm pretty sure that God knew what his name was. So why did He ask that? Because He wanted Jacob to confess who he really was - "My name is Deceiver".

Names don't mean as much today, but back then your name defined you. I'm sure it was not easy being tagged as "Deceiver" your whole life. Most people live up to what is expected of them, and that's probably what Jacob did. He lived up to that name and became a deceiver. But because Jacob was honest and confessed who he was, God not only blessed him but He also gave him a new name - Israel. God conferred upon him not just a new name, but a new identity. He was no longer a deceiver, but he was now Israel, a Prince with God.

What does God want from me, from us? Yes, He wants my love and my obedience, but he also wants me to be honest with myself and with Him. To confess who we really are. The psalmist put it like this:

Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, Psalms 51:6

If we'll do that, really be honest with ourselves and Him, then He is able to confer upon us a new identity. It's called repentance, and without it we cannot be forgiven.

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, ‘God, I thank You that I am not like other men—extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I possess.’ And the tax collector, standing afar off, would not so much as raise his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.” - Jesus Christ