While Jacob was alone, a man came and wrestled with him till daybreak.
When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.
Although Jacob’s hip socket was wrenched, Jacob resisted against this man.
This man said to Jacob: * »Let me go, for it is daybreak. »*
And Jacob, having understood that this man was an angel of God, answered him:
* »I will not let you go unless you bless me. »*
The man asked him:
* »What is your name? »*
And he replied: * »Jacob. »*
Then the man said:
* »Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome. »*(Genesis 32:28)
This new name of Israel is of Hebrew expression and means: * »God showed himself strong »*.
Indeed, each time we manage to withstand the pain of the different trials we go through in life, *our God finally shows himself strong by giving us the victory*.
While we are in trial, people call us names: beggar, swindler, stupid, ungrateful, selfish, incapable, traitor, and so on.
But, after valiantly coming out of a bad situation that causes people to call us names, people start calling us something else different: strongman, hero, good leader, wise, valiant, brave, and so on.
If then Jacob resisted the blows of the one who fought him, and especially the one who touched him in the socket of the hip, we can also resist all the blows of life in the different trials of life that we let’s cross.
And if we resist, surely we will overcome and have new names.
*PRAYER:*
Lord our God, give us to withstand the blows of life until victory.
It is in the precious name of your son Jesus Christ that we pray.
Amen.
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