Fight Or Believe?

“Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.” [Genesis 32.28]

Was it a good thing that Jacob was renamed, Israel?

Where did Israel come from? In a genetic word, Abraham. The only "way" to Israel is Abraham. The way of Abraham was faith.

With that in mind, consider the following passage in Hebrews:

And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him. [Hebrews 11.6]

Much of Jacob's story has to do with God's promise and fulfillment of blessing upon his life. To be sure, Jacob repeatedly fought for it. He manipulated Esau, struggled with Laban, and even wrestled with God. Jacob's fighting for blessings gained him the name, Israel.

We should understand then, that the Law came through Moses, an Israelite. The struggle (fight) to keep the Law quickly became synonymous with the name, Israel. Unremarkably, Israel has been involved in skirmishes and wars all through history. "Israel" eventually crucified Jesus in a war-like effort to preserve their Law.

But, Jesus did not teach "Israel." Instead, Jesus taught "faith." In this way, Abraham became more important than Israel.

The real children of Abraham, then, are those who put their faith in God. [Galatians 3:7]

We must each decide whether we want to be identified with Israel, constantly fighting with God and man to prevail, or with Abraham, who simply believed God and prevailed. Abraham did not fight or argue with God regarding offering Isaac, but instead, simply obeyed in faith.

For the Scriptures tell us, “Abraham believed God, and God counted him as righteous because of his faith.” [Romans 4.3]

Jacob (Israel, Moses, the Law) exerted a lot of effort. But we don't see such in Abraham. Is it any wonder that Jesus taught and demonstrated faith instead of meticulous compliance with the Law? 

It might be worth at least considering that Jacob being renamed Israel might not have been a good thing.

Father, help us to further study and understand the importance of Abraham's demonstrated faith as compared to Israel's demonstrated struggle. May we be found in faith. So be it.