Thanksgiving for Kept Promises
Deception, betrayal, and exile marked Jacob's life. But then God promised Jacob to watch over him, keep him safe, and bring him back home (Gen. 28:15). In Genesis 32:28, he was renamed as Israel and God promised that he would father a great nation. These unshakable promises echoed in Jacob's heart for years to come. After a long period of separation, Jacob and his estranged brother Esau are reunited peacefully. Jacob was finally able to return to his ancestral homeland in Canaan.
Here, Jacob built an altar to thank God. Using a new name, אֵל אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל — El Elohei Yisrael, “God, the God of Israel” he honored Him and expressed deep gratitude for fulfilling His promises (Gen. 33). This name reflected the personal relationship Jacob had with the Lord. Do you want to deepen your relationship with Him? Sign up for our classes and be blessed with all those Hebrew insights we will reveal to you!