Wrestling with God may define you.  Before Jacob met Esau for the first time since he stole his enraged brother's birth right and blessing, he met and wrestled a man who turned out to be God.  God renames Jacob “Israel” for his persistence in the struggle characterizing his new-found identity and the future nation that would spring from him (Gen. 32:27).  Renaming an individual as a mark of their redefining occurred when Abraham's name was changed from “Exalted Father” to “Father of Many” for wrestling with God's promises (17:3-8).  Jesus renamed Peter, formerly Simon (John 1:42), and Matthew, formerly Levi (Matt. 9:9/Luke 5:27), as each was faced with leaving everything for the kingdom.  While the importance of names has diminished, our struggles with God still uniquely shape us and may ultimately define us.  A pastor may find their calling for ministry in a sin that plagues them, realizing that God equips us through our struggles (2 Cor. 12:7-10).  Sadly, those who deny or run from God will not defy his sovereignty, and their lives may be defined by failures that result God's glory (Ex. 14:17). 

Watch weighty words of wrath.  The future founder of Israel, Jacob, fled from his father-in-law Laban who quickly pursued in search of his missing household gods.  Jacob, quick to vindicate himself with weighty words of wrath, nearly issues the death sentence for his favored wife Rachel who had secretly carried off the idols (Gen. 31:31).  While Jacob was fortunate to escape the repercussions of his words (31:34-35), later generations did not fair as well: Judah is trapped by Tamar and forced to eat his words of condemnation (Gen. 38:24-26) and Jephthah  sacrifices his own daughter due to a mindless vow (Judges 11:30-38).  Weighty words still divide today as James and Paul remind us that the tongue cannot be tamed (James 3:7-8) and not to let the sun set in anger (Eph. 4:26).  Fathers should encourage their children instead of berating them with reminders of past failures and shortcomings lest resentment split their families (6:4).  Christians should choose gentleness and respect over ultimatums and venomous ad hominem when debating with unbelievers so our words will attract them to the gospel (1 Peter 3:15-16).