Honesty... a lost virtue


Gen 32:27-28 - The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel.

Jacob lived according to the meaning of his name. His name means supplanter, cheat, deceiver, manipulator. In his youth, he manipulated his brother of his birth rights. In his adult life, he cheated his father and obtained the first born's blessings. In his working life, he manipulator his uncle who became his father-in-law (Gen 31:26). 


But until he recognized who he was, and until he was honest with God about himself, God could not do what he intended for Jacob. But the moment he realized that he was a cheater and was willing to be honest, God changed him to be a prince of God.

Confession and restitution are the key to a God-filled life.

Until this time, Jacob was living in the shadow of someone else's blessings. All that he had came from his uncle (Gen 31:43). Yes he was blessed but blessed under another's shadow. But the moment he confessed who he was, he became a source of blessing to the nations. 

Gen 35:11-12 - be fruitful and increase in number. A nation and a community of nations will come from you, and kings will be among your descendants.  The land I gave to Abraham and Isaac I also give to you, and I will give this land to your descendants after you.

 When a man is honest with God and man, his status changes from being a deceiver to becoming a prince of God, from being blessed to becoming a blessing

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