The name Israel was given to Jacob at Peniel (Gen. 32) when he was on his way to reunite with his brother Esau—doing so while not knowing if that reunion was going to be bloody or not. God had told him to return, and had promised that such a return would be blessed. But this was a promise that Jacob had to hang on to by sheer faith, especially after he got word that Esau was headed his way, and with four hundred armed men with him.

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