Our Name: “Peniel”:  

The Pen of this word means face in Hebrew. The el suffix is the first two letters of the Old Testament name for God, Elohim. Peniel means the “face of God.” Peniel is the place where Jacob wrestled with the Angel of the Lord until the morning seeking the blessing of safety.  The Angel put Jacob’s hip out of joint causing him to limp in his walk the rest of his life. The Angel also changed his name from Jacob, Trickster, to Israel, Prince with God.  Jacob called this site where the Jabbok River runs into the Jordan River, Peniel. Genesis 32:30, “And Jacob called the name of the place Peniel; for I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved. Genesis 32:20.

Life’s Application:

So, what are we to do with a story like the one in Genesis 32?  What does this have to do with our lives?
We’re glad you asked . . .

First, God allows the struggles in the hope of producing faith.
Second, the greatest problem in life is not our circumstances, but our heart.
Third, even though we resist God, He pursues us!