And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 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. And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 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. (Genesis 32:24-28)
Today's Morsel: Have you ever heard these names before: Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah? What about Belteshazzar? Many people throughout scripture had their names changed. Some people change their names to protect their identity while others change them to avoid persecution from others, while still others had their's changed through adoption. Jacob's name, given to him by his parents, meant deceiver, liar, cheap, supplanter. But after his encounter with God, and his prevail with God, God, changed his name from Jacob to Israel. Meaning a prince. God didn't want Jacob to look at himself for what he was, but for what he would and could become. People may remember you for what you were, but when you have a spiritual encounter with Jesus, He will change you to what you can become. As Paul said, "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new" (2 Corinthians 5:17). The names Belteshazzar (Daniel), Hananiah (Shadrach), Mishael, (Meshach) and Azariah (Abednego), were the Babylonian names given to them. We may not be pleased with the name given to us here on earth, but we are going to have a new name in heaven.
Sing: There's a new name written down in glory, and it's mine, O yes it's mine! And the white robed angels sing the story, "A sinner has come home." For there's a new name written down in glory, and it's mine, O yes, it's mine! With my sins forgiven, I am bound for heaven, never more to roam.
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