One of the greatest studies that Christians can do is to prayerfully read and study what God has said and promised to the people and land of Israel. We are posting here scriptural passages which show what the Lord has said about the land of Israel, or a covenant or promise God has made with the Jewish people. Please use these scriptures as the beginning point of study using various tools such as commentaries quoting well- recognized Hebrew scholars, or the Logos Lexicon of Hebrew words. Our prayer is that these scriptures will come alive in your hearts as the Holy Spirit speaks to you about God’s intentions, heart, and promises to the Jewish people and over the land of Israel.

This week we will look at scriptures about the life of Jacob. His mother Rebekah was barren and prayed to the Lord for a child. God answered Rebekah’s prayer with a prophecy.

Gen. 25:23 NASB 1995 Prophecy about Jacob
The Lord said to her, “Two nations are in your womb; And two peoples will be separated from your body; And one people shall be stronger than the other; And the older shall serve the younger.”

Rebekah understood from God that Jacob would receive the birthright of the firstborn and taught him to value not only his natural but his spiritual birthright. We see this throughout Jacob’s life. He valued who he was in God’s eyes and his relationship with the Almighty. The birthright was very important to Jacob, but it was not important to Esau. Perhaps this is why God said in Malachi 1:2-3 “…I have loved Jacob; but I have hated Esau…”. It seems incredible today that many Christians don’t value their spiritual birthright and relationship with God. Jacob’s life shows us that despite our human weaknesses what is important to God is how we value our spiritual relationship and walk with Him.

Gen. 32:24-32 NASB 1995 Jacob strives with God
Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. When he saw that he had not prevailed against him, he touched the socket of his thigh; so the socket of Jacob’s thigh was dislocated while he wrestled with him. Then he said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking.” But he said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” So he said to him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.” He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel; for you have striven with God and with men and have prevailed.” Then Jacob asked him and said, “Please tell me your name.” But he said, “Why is it that you ask my name?” And he blessed him there. So Jacob named the place Peniel, for he said, “I have seen God face to face, yet my life has been preserved.” Now the sun rose upon him just as he crossed over Penuel, and he was limping on his thigh. Therefore, to this day the sons of Israel do not eat the sinew of the hip which is on the socket of the thigh, because he touched the socket of Jacob’s thigh in the sinew of the hip.

This was a life-changing moment for Jacob where God changes his name to Israel. The meanings of his name Jacob can be heel, supplant, or overcoming through human effort. In Gen. 32:28 the word striven in Hebrew is sarita. The root of sarita is sarah which means to strive, contend, or persevere. The Hebrew meaning of Israel comes from two words: sarah and El which is a Hebrew word for God.

God put these two Hebrew words together into the name Israel which can mean struggles with God, persevere with God, or God prevails. This shows that Jacob learned to persevere with God and ultimately let God prevail and have His way in his life.

I believe this is also very interesting and significant throughout the history of the Jewish people. It has not always been easy to be His chosen people. This is also significant for Christians who walk with God and who understand how the Lord works in their individual lives.