What Words Best Describe Your Character?
Genesis 32:27-28
27 The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. 28 Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.”
Why did God asked Jacob, “What is your name?” God obviously new his name and everything else about Jacob, so why would God ask this question. In the Old Testament people were named after their character. That label let others know about who their parents thought they were. When God asked Jacob this seemingly small question, it really was putting Jacob to the test. Would he admit his character, or would he cover up his sinful past trying to hide his real and felt identity? The name Jacob back then meant deceiver, liar, and manipulator. Jacob confesses that he is a manipulator and a liar when he shares his true name.
What would your name be if you were named for your greatest weakness? “Hello, my name is…
God wants to give us new name like He did with Jacob. No longer will this man be seen for who he was. From now on he has a new name and a new identity. What we’ve done in our worst moments is not who we are anymore, when we confess to our Lord and experience His redeeming power to become more like Christ and less like our false identity.
If you were given an Old Testament name, what would it be?
It’s truly a humbling experience to admit and confess our greatest weaknesses in our character to God and to a few trusted people. When come clean about the things that most people already see in us, the healing and change in our character begins. There’s no sin in our lives that God is not aware of so we can stand before God in confession and experience His grace and love.
Are you willing to take this step of confession today? If so, then pray.
What is the Holy Spirit saying to you through these scriptures?
