Jacob could not become all that God wanted him to be until his name and character were changed. You remember his meeting at midnight with that angel on the bank of the Jabbok River. After that wrestling match with God, his name was changed from Jacob (supplanter) to Israel (Prince of God, he will rule as God). Yes, you will start ruling after now! Until you are changed, until you are physically and spiritually transformed, then the totality, the beauty and the fullness of God will not manifest in your life. Can we just read this great account: “But during the night Jacob got up and sent his two wives, two concubines, and eleven sons across the Jabbok River. After they were on the other side, he sent all his possessions. This left Jacob was alone in the camp and a man came and wrestled with him until dawn. When the man saw that he could not win the fight, he struck Jacob on the hip and knocked it out of joint. Then the man said, ‘Let me go, it’s dawn. But Jacob gasped: ‘I won’t let you go unless you hurt me.’ ‘What’s your name?’ The man asked, he replied: ‘Jacob’. ‘Your name will no longer be Jacob’, the man told him, ‘now it is Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed…’ Genesis 32:22 -31 Praise God!
This guy needed a hardcore wrestling match all night long, a strong divine push with his last bit of strength to pull off this total, complete, once-in-a-lifetime transformation and the end result proved that the effort is well worth it. After the fight, Jacob won, the Sun rose for him and his worst fear (which was to meet his terribly enraged older brother) vanished. In fact, his fear instantly turned to victory and joy because Esau, though fiercely approaching with his four hundred strong men, immediately melted and rushed to hug and kiss his brother, who fraudulently took away his blessings. and his birthright. In fact, the record said that they both broke down in tears. Perhaps what you also need today is to fight with God in prayer until you see that transformation in your life. Although Jacob had acquired a measure of achievement, he needed this particular experience in order to enter into his rest, destiny, and also perfect God’s program for his life. Through him the nation of Israel would be born and established, but not with its present dubious name and attitude. His name and nature must first be changed from a con man to a prince. From fearful to fighter. From opportunist to doer of God’s will. And from manipulator to prayer warrior. Like me, he learned the midnight prayer by force. God’s word says that he wrestled with man all night long and won! I also love the way Hosea expresses it. He said that Jacob wrestled with his brother in the womb and as a man he also wrestled with the angel and God and won. Wow!
Yes, you may also need this transformation now to become what God wants you to be. Yes, you may look good physically, but on the inside, in private, you know that all is not well with you. You need to touch on their character, attitudes, inadequacies, obstacles, and shortcomings. There are impediments that need to be uprooted from your life, so that you can become what God wants you to be. It can even be a disease or a stubborn problem. You can not believe, for some, it is their anger, their stubbornness, their talkativeness, infidelity or their laziness that has prevented them from climbing or having a sustained relationship, marriage, work, career or spiritual growth. This must change today in the name of Jesus! That Jacob must be changed to Israel! You cannot be fulfilled until he is done. Jacob couldn’t. And you must fight like him until God does. Another man named Jabez in the scriptures understood this and was blessed more than everyone around him. The circumstance of his birth and name affected him negatively, but he refused to accept that and prayed until God changed him. You know this place: “Jabes was more illustrious than his brothers, and his mother named him Jabes, saying: ‘Because I gave birth to him with pain.’ And Jabez called upon the God of Israel, saying, “Oh, if you would indeed bless me and enlarge my territory, if your hand were with me and kept me from evil, so that I do not cause pain! So God granted him what he asked for.” 1 Chronicles 4:9-10. did you read that?
When his prayers were answered and the total transformation took place, he went from a hurting, poor, and fearful man to an honorable, wealthy, secure, and wounded man. Watch it again. He is there. He asked God to bless him, to enlarge him, to be with him, to protect him and to change his name, which was pain. In fact, he wasn’t just responding to pain; he was teasing her, performing, showing, sniffing, serving, and distributing. And you know you can’t be at that level of pain while also being ashamed. My God! And the Almighty granted his requests and changed all that. It was a complete transformation, an answered prayer from a man who had been utterly broken and frustrated since his birth. He can do the same for you today. But first you must desire the change. You should also call him. You must be ready to pray and fight with him until you see that change, that total transformation that you want to manifest in your life and situation. Sir, please change my name! Share this post with others.
Gabriel is the author of the books/audiobooks: The Power of the Midnight Prayer, Receive Your Healing, Breaking Generational Curses: Reclaiming Your Freedom, Never Again!, I Will Not Die, Move On, The Power of Sacrifice, Prepare for That Battle, and many more. others https://www.amazon.com/s?I=stripbooks&rh=p_27%3AGabriel+Agbo&s=relevancerank&text=Gabriel+Agbo&ref=dp_byline_sr_book_1
