After Jacob found grace (unmerited favor) in the face of God (Exodus 32:28-30) and from his brother Esau (Genesis 33:10), at Padanaram, he pitches a tent, and erects an altar there and called it EleloheIsrael, which means God, The God of Israel.
In other words, after his experience of grace, Jacob, now rechristened with a new name/identity as Israel (Genesis 32:28), upon coming to a place of temporary rest (since a tent is not permanent), on his journey toward the promised land, stops and worships God by erecting an altar. He also makes a personal declaration recognizing The One whom he is worshipping. He identifies God, who had identified himself to Abraham, Isaac, and to him as Elohim (from which we get the root El), meaning God Almighty (Exodus 6:3) as His personal God – The God of Israel (Hebrew: eloheIsrael). Israel in other words is saying that Elohim is His God.
Points to ponder:
One experiences the grace of God when they acknowledge and admit their current sinful state (as did Jacob) and are graciously given a new identity in Christ, for whoever is in Christ (by belief in Him) is made a new creation/identity (2 Corinthians 5:17). Have you believed in Jesus Christ and been given a new name and identity in Christ? (Galatians 2:20). If you have experienced the grace of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6; John 14:9), the rightful response is to worship him.
Upon belief, as we move on the journey toward the promised land of God, we must recognize that this world is a temporary place (tent), and we must worship God and recognize him to be our personal God. Though He is God Almighty (Elohim), He can be addressed as the God of Israel (Jacob formerly), as your God, and as mine. Is the Almighty God, your personal God? In other words, is EleloheIsrael Elelohe(YourName)?
Exodus 33:17-20 (KJV)
17 And Jacob journeyed to Succoth, and built him an house, and made booths for his cattle: therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.
18 And Jacob came to Shalem, a city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Padanaram; and pitched his tent before the city.
19 And he bought a parcel of a field, where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem’s father, for an hundred pieces of money.
20 And he erected there an altar, and called it EleloheIsrael.
2 Corinthians 4:6 (KJV)
6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.
John 14:8-10 (KJV)
8 Philip saith unto him, Lord, show us the Father, and it sufficeth us.
9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Show us the Father?
10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
