Jacob's New Name

A long time ago there were twin brothers named Jacob and Esau. Esau was born first, so there was a special blessing meant just for him. But Jacob wanted that blessing for himself.

So Jacob did a tricky thing. He dressed up to look and feel like his brother Esau, and he fooled their old father, Isaac, who could not see very well. Isaac gave Jacob the blessing! But when Esau found out, he was so angry that Jacob had to run far away from home.

Jacob was all alone and tired, so he lay down with a stone for a pillow and fell asleep. That night God gave him an amazing dream: a tall stairway going all the way up to heaven, with angels going up and down on it.

At the top, God spoke kindly to Jacob. He said, “I am with you, and I will take care of you everywhere you go, and I will always bring you home.” Even though Jacob had done wrong, God still wanted to be his friend.

Many years later, Jacob came back home. He was scared to see Esau again. That night by a river, Someone came and wrestled with Jacob all night long. Jacob held on tight and would not let go. “I won't let go until you bless me!” he said.

Then God gave Jacob a brand-new name. “You won't be called Jacob the trickster anymore,” God said. “Now your name is Israel, because you held on to God.” God can take someone who made big mistakes and make them brand-new.