From Jacob To Israel

Fear not, you worm Jacob, You men of Israel!  I will help you, says the LORD and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.

Isaiah 41:14

Christ transforms us.  He transforms all who are His.  Our text uses two names to refer to the people of God.  They hark back to Jacob the patriarch, whose name God changed at Peniel, where he saw the face of God and wrestled with Him.  In our text, God refers to ‘you worm Jacob’ in reference to Jacob’s natural depravity.  This depravity is common to us all.  It was Jacob’s personal encounter with the pre-incarnate Christ that changed him forever.  It was at that time that God changed Jacob’s name to Israel, ‘a prince with God’ that is, ‘one who has contended with God and prevailed.’  It is only a personal encounter with Christ which transforms us from what we are by nature to what we are by grace.  This transformation of Jacob to Israel serves as an illustration to us of the workings of God with us through the personal encounter we have with Christ.  It is our intention to encourage the people of God with what we write in this daily devotional.  Having said that, it is also our intention to set forth Christ as the only One Who can redeem and transform.  If you have not embraced Christ as the Gospel freely offers Him, we challenge you to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and be saved.

Our Wise and Sovereign God,
we rejoice that You utterly transform us
by Your Saving Power.
We praise You that Your Holy Spirit works,
to conform us to the image of Christ
and to become truly princes with God.

Tomm Tice
Where the Bush is Burning