Whoever walks in integrity walks securely, and whoever takes crooked paths will be found out. – Proverbs 10:9
Genesis 31 and 32 tells of a time when Jacob fled his father in law, Laban. He left with his wives, servants, livestock and all the wealth he had accumulated while serving there for twenty years. Before moving in with his father in law, we know that Jacob tricked his father into believing he was Esau, and Isaac blessed Jacob with the blessings Esau was rightfully entitled to. Jacob’s escape from his father in law meant that he had to go through his brother’s camp, the brother he betrayed. Out of fear, he starts sending emissaries and gifts to his brother. He later sends his wives, concubines and children also to go through the camp first before he does
Scriptures tells that while Jacob was alone that evening, an angel of the Lord appeared unto him and they wrestled until day break. So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.” – Genesis 32:24-28
What seemed like a casual question here was actually a deal-maker for God with regard to Jacob and His destiny. Stealing his brother’s birthright and blessing was classless and evil, and it meant that Jacob operated under his brother’s destiny. The question “what is your name?” was a move to give Jacob another chance to come clean, because God can only bless the real you, and not who you pretend to be. Admitting that he was indeed Jacob set him up for what God had originally intended for him, which is to make him the father of his beloved nation, Israel.
You might have heard this Bible verse before, “a good name is better than riches,” which basically suggests that integrity is far valuable than riches. Integrity is the act of being honest and having strong moral principles. People who value their integrity live upright and honest lives, they are true to themselves and can be trusted always. Unlike Jacob, they do not live in fear of their brothers or other people because they treat all men equally and with a great deal of respect.
God has blessed us with lots of gifts and called us into lots of places and ministries, if we are to ever be successful as he wants us to be, we must walk in integrity. It is my prayer that we are empowered to be people of integrity, where others compromise and say yes, may we receive strength to say no. Amen!
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