“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]
Genesis 32.28 is the first use of the word "Israel" in the Bible. This is important.
What does it mean to fight with God and man? In context, which is all we can rely on for the answer to this question, Jacob wrestled for favor with God in his endeavor to find favor with his brother, Esau. In this endeavor, Jacob succeeded as was renamed Israel accordingly. Jacob's new name became not only his own, but also all his descendants following him - the nation of Israel.
For you are a holy people, who belong to the LORD your God. Of all the people on earth, the LORD your God has chosen you to be his own special treasure. [Deuteronomy 7.6]
This is all very important!
We should consider that the Ten Commandments would later become the flagship law of the nation of Israel. It is no mistake that the Ten Commandments can be divided into two main categories: commandments regarding God and commandments regarding man. Jesus confirmed this:
When the crowds heard him, they were astounded at his teaching. But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees with his reply, they met together to question him again. One of them, an expert in religious law, tried to trap him with this question: “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the law of Moses?” Jesus replied, “‘You must love the LORD your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ The entire law and all the demands of the prophets are based on these two commandments.” [Matthew 22.33-40]
And then, if we can see it, Jesus also wrestled with God and man and won. This would entitle Him to the name "Israel" as well.
Jesus said something that caused great repulsion at first, but that was absolutely necessary to accomplish His eternal purpose:
So Jesus said again, “I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you cannot have eternal life within you. But anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise that person at the last day. For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink. Anyone who eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in him. I live because of the living Father who sent me; in the same way, anyone who feeds on me will live because of me. I am the true bread that came down from heaven. Anyone who eats this bread will not die as your ancestors did (even though they ate the manna) but will live forever.” [John 6.53-58]
Furthermore, Jesus explained His relationship to man:
Everyone who lives in me and believes in me will never ever die. Do you believe this, Martha?” [John 11.26]
Believing in, and living in Jesus miraculously transports the "believer" into Him and He in them. Paul explains how this act of faith in Christ makes every believer "Israel" along with Him:
In those days you were living apart from Christ. You were excluded from citizenship among the people of Israel, and you did not know the covenant promises God had made to them. You lived in this world without God and without hope. But now you have been united with Christ Jesus. Once you were far away from God, but now you have been brought near to him through the blood of Christ. For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. [Ephesians 2.12-14]
And so, what does every person "in Christ" do? They wrestle with God and man in the ministry of reconciliation.
And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him. [2 Corinthians 5.18]
Jesus said it like this:
“I tell you the truth, anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works, because I am going to be with the Father. [John 14.12]
Again he said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I am sending you.” [John 20.21]
Then, Paul went on to describe our mission in Christ:
We are human, but we don’t wage war as humans do. We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. We destroy every proud obstacle that keeps people from knowing God. We capture their rebellious thoughts and teach them to obey Christ. [2 Corinthians 10.3-5]
Wrestling with God and man in Christ makes any and every believer "Israel," God's chosen special treasure.
What is it to wrestle with God? As described in the Old Testament, it is strict commitment to the following:
“I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from the land of Egypt, the place of your slavery. “You must not have any other god but me. “You must not make for yourself an idol of any kind or an image of anything in the heavens or on the earth or in the sea. You must not bow down to them or worship them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not tolerate your affection for any other gods. I lay the sins of the parents upon their children; the entire family is affected—even children in the third and fourth generations of those who reject me. But I lavish unfailing love for a thousand generations on those who love me and obey my commands. “You must not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name. [Exodus 20.2-7]
Wrestling with God is desperately holding onto Him and Him alone for everything He is and promises to His own. There is neither room nor allowance for idols.
In the New Testament, wrestling with God is no less strict commitment to God in Christ:
If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]
What is it then to wrestle with man? As described in the Old Testament, it is strict commitment to the following:
“Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God is giving you. “You must not murder. “You must not commit adultery. “You must not steal. “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor. “You must not covet your neighbor’s house. You must not covet your neighbor’s wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else that belongs to your neighbor.” [Exodus 20.12-17]
Wrestling with man is desperately treating others as I wish to be treated myself. There is neither room not allowance for the idol of "self."
In the New Testament, wrestling with man is no less strict commitment to man in Christ:
If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me. [Matthew 16.24 (also, Mark 8.34 & Luke 9.23)]
An astute student of the Bible will recognize that the Exodus references above are all the Ten Commandments except the 4th Commandment regarding the Sabbath:
“Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you. For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. [Exodus 20.8-11]
Ironically, Jesus was accused of breaking the Sabbath and it would appear from the Bible that He did just that! However! It is impossible that Jesus could break the Sabbath when, in fact, He IS the Sabbath!
So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths. For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality. [Colossians 2.16-17]
Why is the Sabbath commandment placed between the first three (Godward) commandments and the last six (manward) commandments? Because reconciliation is not possible between God and man except in the Sabbath, that is, Christ Jesus. And, for this reason Jesus said:
“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me. [John 14.6]
The life of "Israel" is one of struggle. It is the life of holding onto God alone. It is the life of reconciling man unto God. It is the life of miraculous blessing toward man. It is the life of Jesus - Christ in us.
Father, may Your Word speak to us today in the Truth that it is. May we see Jesus. May we be found in Jesus. May we vehemently, singularly, and exclusively hold to Him to fulfill the first three of Your Ten Commandments. And, may we vehemently, singularly, and exclusively hold to Him to fulfill the last six of Your Ten Commandments. May we hold to Jesus, the 4th Commandment Sabbath - and in our vehement, singular, and exclusive hold on Him, find Your prescribed rest. So be it.
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