Wrestling till dawn

Norah Summers June 01, 2022 0 1

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Genesis 32: 22-32 (NRSVA)

22 The same night he got up and took his two wives, his two maids, and his eleven children, and crossed the ford of the Jabbok. 23 He took them and sent them across the stream, and likewise everything that he had. 24 Jacob was left alone; and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. 25 When the man saw that he did not prevail against Jacob, he struck him on the hip socket; and Jacob’s hip was put out of joint as he wrestled with him. 26 Then he said, ‘Let me go, for the day is breaking.’ But Jacob said, ‘I will not let you go, unless you bless me.’ 27 So he said to him, ‘What is your name?’ And he said, ‘Jacob.’ 28 Then the man said, ‘You shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel, for you have striven with God and with humans, and have prevailed.’ 29 Then Jacob asked him, ‘Please tell me your name.’ But he said, ‘Why is it that you ask my name?’ And there he blessed him. 30 So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, ‘For I have seen God face to face, and yet my life is preserved.’ 31 The sun rose upon him as he passed Penuel, limping because of his hip. 32 Therefore to this day the Israelites do not eat the thigh muscle that is on the hip socket, because he struck Jacob on the hip socket at the thigh muscle.

New name – new identity. Or is it the other way round?

Many years ago, when I became President of our Woman’s Guild (as it was then)

I was quite taken aback suddenly to be addressed by some older members no longer as Norah, but as Mrs Summers – apparently my elevated status warranted this respect. One sensible person jokingly called me Mrs Norah – that stuck and  seemed to satisfy everyone!!

Several Bible stories tell of people having their names changed.

Abram becomes Abraham, his wife Sarai becomes Sarah.
Simon becomes Peter.
Saul becomes Paul.

A change of name implies other changes, significant turning points in lives,

often accompanied by considerable struggles.

Jacob is now to be Israel, after his struggle with the stranger.

He is transformed overnight, but it must have seemed a very long night.

Jesus told Nicodemus that he must be born again — spiritually enter a new life.

And by what struggles,
what soul-searching,
what questioning,
what dawning of light,
what recognition of new identity,
do we call ourselves Christians?

PRAYER:

God of the new,

God of the unexpected,

we offer you our struggles,

our willingness to change,

our acceptance of the new life you give.

And we know you are there, making all things new.