Honor

The man who wrestled with Jacob renamed him to Israel, which means Prince. Jacob had striven with men and with God, and God honored him. If Jacob were a scoundrel, a deceiver, a greedy man, this honor would be hollow, false, a slander of God Himself. God honored Jacob because he had stood in faith. He had not striven with men dishonorably, but honorably. He had not acted in retribution toward Laban, he had not prepared a military attack upon his murderous brother, and he had not give up on living with the burden of the Blessing. Thus, God honored him with a new name.