An Encounter That Resulted In A New Name - Pastor Michael A. Oke

Text: Genesis 32:25

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

Scripture reading: Gen 32:24-30

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.

OPENING MESSAGE:
This message is the story of a man who had an unusual encounter with God, and the outcome of the encounter brought about a change in his name.
The story is recorded in Gen 32: 24-30 as read above.
Before your life will be changed, you must have a genuine encounter with God.
Before an effective new name will be given to you, it is a must that you have a fruit-bearing encounter with God.
Some people claim to have had an encounter with God, but the fruits of the encounter are seen in their lives.
Any encounter with God without the expected fruits is a disaster.

HOW JACOB HAD AN ENCOUNTER THAT CHANGED HIS NAME
In verse Gen 32:24; the bible says 24 And Jacob was left alone…
When you are left alone, that is the best time to have a meaningful encounter with God.
- At times, you might be left alone – no parents, no relatives, no friends, no husband, no wife. Such time is not meant for sorrow or trouble of mind.
- You may be despised, you may be rejected or abandoned. Your home may even break – in one word, you’re left alone. Such is the time to go to God for a personal encounter. Jacob had an encounter with God when he was left alone.
In verse Gen 32:25 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.
This was indeed a desperate encounter with God. Jacob was so desperate because he was in trouble, yet he needed somebody to pray for him.
What were the troubles?
- Jacob was on the way between Syria where he labored for twenty years and Cannan his father’s land.
- He departed from Syria and Laban his mother’s brother – the end of the relationship was not good, so he could not go back to him.
- He had to go to his father’s land, but the problem that his mother caused between him and his brother Esau twenty years ago had not yet been solved.
- At such a time, Jacob needed a man of God or a priest who would pray for him.
- Fortunately, he saw a man, he did not even bother to know the identity of the man, all he wanted was that the man would just pray for him.
- You too are going through some problems – let the problems lead you to a personal encounter with God.
  - Whenever you are going through a problem, let it lead you to God.
Still in verse 25, when the man saw that Jacob became so desperate in the wrestling, he broke a bone in his leg – this is the test of faith.
- If you desire a serious encounter with God, you must be ready for God to break you.
- If God did not break you, he cannot remold you, if you are not remolded, you can’t come out as a new vessel.
- The bone of Jacob was broken, yet he did not end the wrestle, rather he continued.
  - Ro 8:35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
- When God breaks you, make your relationship with him stronger than before, at the end, a greater identity will show forth.
In verse 26 And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.
- Despite the pain and agony, Jacob insisted that something must be done to his situation – this was an extreme desperation!
- Your situation too is causing serious pain, reproach, and shame. But if you can desire a personal encounter with God, assuredly, something will happen.
In verse 27 And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob.
- You can see Jacob was asked; “What is your name”? He said, “Jacob”?
- This showed that Jacob did not know that something was wrong in his life, otherwise, he wouldn’t have mentioned the name. rather he would have requested for another name – he would have said; give me a new name.
- Many people are here, up till now, you did not know that something is wrong in your life.
- Until you know that something is wrong in your life, it is then you will prepare for a personal encounter with God.
In verse 28 And he said, Thy name shall no more be called Jacob, but Israel…
- What is the meaning of Jacob? A supplanter.
- Who is a supplanter? This is somebody who cunningly takes the position of another.
- And God knew that Jacob could never be blessed with such a name. because whatever he too labored for will be taken by another.
- Jacob did not recognize this but he was delivered because of the encounter he had with God.
- There are lots of supplanters in this programme.
  - If you sleep with the wife of another man, you are a supplanter.
  - If you deceitfully diverted the blessing of another person unto yourself, you are a supplanter.
  - If you demonically stole the fortune of someone’s child unto yourself, you are a supplanter.
- As bad as the name was, Jacob aware of it.
- He did not even think to change it, but when he had a personal encounter with God, the name was changed to Israel.
- Imagine the great difference! From Jacob to Israel.

FROM JACOB TO ISRAEL
Let’s highlight some notable blessings that happened when the name was changed:
His life was preserved – his brother Esau could not revenge against him anymore.
- Gen 32: 30 And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.
- If your name is changed through a new life, your salvation will be secured.
God made Israel fruitful and multiplied.
- He had blessings before, but fruitful and multiplied. You may be blessed in your old name, but when you get a new name through a new life, God will multiply you and make you fruitful.
- Gen 35:11 And God said unto him, I am God Almighty: be fruitful and multiply; a nation and a company of nations shall be of thee, and kings shall come out of thy loins.
God gave him perfect peace – Esau departed from him willingly.
- His brother, Esau departed from Cannan peacefully from him, and went to Edom.
- Gen 36: 6 And Esau took his wives, and his sons, and his daughters, and all the persons of his house, and his cattle, and all his beasts, and all his substance, which he had got in the land of Canaan; and went into the country from the face of his brother Jacob.
God turned his sorrow over his son Joseph to Joy.
- God spared his life to see the fulfillment of the dream of Joseph.
- Gen 45:28 And Israel said, It is enough; Joseph my son is yet alive: I will go and see him before I die.
He was fully fulfilled, died at a good old age, and his riches outlived him.
- Gen 49:33 And when Jacob had made an end of commanding phis sons, he gathered up his feet into the bed, and yielded up the ghost, and was gathered unto his people.
His blessings outlived him.
- John 4:12 Art thou greater than our father Jacob, which gave us the well, and drank thereof himself, and his children, and his cattle?
All these wouldn’t have been possible if the name of Jacob was not changed.
When you get to Heaven, you are going to see Jacob.
He would have missed it on earth, but one day encounter with God turned the situation positively.
- Do you desire such greater blessings from God?
- Do you want God to change your name?
- Are ready to receive the grace to live a new life that will command a new name for you?
- The door of decision is open.
Altar Call.