Genesis 32:27 And he said unto him, what is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28 And he said, thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.
Apparently, the real fight was with God and not with Esau, because Jacob needed the full and complete surrender of his will to God. When Christ met him in battle at the river Jabbok, Jacob did what most of us would do in a similar situation, which is to try and choke the assailant. Thus, the question is: Have we ever fought with The Lord and prevailed? The word ish (אִישׁ) in Hebrew means man. The word רַע (ra) in Hebrew means evil, and the word El (אֵל) in Hebrew means God.
Thus, you will have Ish-Ra El or Israel, meaning that God reaches over the abyss of Ra, (Evil) which has separated God from man, and Christ takes our hand to save us by His power alone, from ourselves as well as from Esau and his hosts, or his ghosts. If the story had ended there, we would have praised The Lord and gone our merry way rejoicing, but we came across something that is worthy of our utmost consideration.
Apparently, the story isn’t only about Jacob, it is about us, who are living today, who may have to pass through similar circumstances. [The Great Controversy pp 618] As Satan influenced Esau to march against Jacob, so he will stir up the wicked to destroy God’s people in the time of trouble. And as he accused Jacob, he will urge his accusations against the people of God. If he could blot them from the earth, his triumph would be complete.
Genesis 32:29 And Jacob asked him, and said, tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, wherefore is it that you ask after my name? And he blessed him there.
May God add His blessing to the study of His word. “Good night” and God bless!