For the Lord has chosen Jacob for himself, Israel for his own special treasure. Psalm 135:4 (New Living Translation, NLT)

As I was reading Psalm 135, I noticed this verse uses both of Jacob’s names. In Genesis 32, Jacob wrestled with God and experienced a total change of identity.

This left Jacob all alone in the camp, and a man came and wrestled with him until the dawn began to break. When the man saw that he would not win the match, he touched Jacob’s hip and wrenched it out of its socket. Then the man said, “Let me go, for the dawn is breaking!” But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” “What is your name?” the man asked. He replied, “Jacob.” “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” the man told him. “From now on you will be called Israel, because you have fought with God and with men and have won.” Genesis 32:24-28 (New Living Translation, NLT)

The name Jacob means heel or deceiver. Israel means prince with God, or God fights. Jacob had an encounter with God and it changed who he was. He went from being a trickster and deceiver to being a prince with God. And God fought, and still fights, for Israel.

In Psalm 135:4, we see that God came to Jacob, He chose him, when he was a heel and a deceiver. Once Jacob had an encounter with God, he was changed to Israel, and was made to be God’s special treasure.

The same was true with us. God chose us and died for us while we were still sinners. We were heels, tricksters, deceivers, and children of the devil. But when we encountered the living God, we were changed. And now we are princes (and princesses) with God. And as such, we are His treasure. We are loved and valued of the Father. And as His children, He fights for us. The battle belongs to the Lord, not to us.

Israel also refers to the nation that came forth from Jacob/ Israel. As children of God, we have been adopted into the family of God and we are members of spiritual Israel.

What a blessing to know God chose us when we weren’t worth choosing, and He has made us into something He greatly values.