S – Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. ²⁵ When the man saw that he could not defeat him, he struck Jacob’s hip socket as they wrestled and dislocated his hip. ²⁶ Then he said to Jacob, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” 

But Jacob said, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” 

²⁷ “What is your name?” the man asked. 

“Jacob,” he replied. 

²⁸ “Your name will no longer be Jacob,” he said. “It will be Israel because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed

Genesis 32:24–28 CSB

O – Commentary:

The blessing took the form of a new name—Israel. This name probably means “God fights,” as the popular etymology signifies. The explanation was then given that Jacob had fought with God and with men. It is easy to comprehend his having fought with men but that he fought “with God” is more difficult to understand. Throughout Jacob’s entire life he had been dragging God’s blessing out under all circumstances for his own use, under “his own steam.” He was too self-willed and too proud to let the blessing be given to him.

So “God fights” was now his name. This meant, first, that God chose, because of the patriarch’s stubbornness and pride, to fight against him. Second, it meant that God would fight for Israel.

Jacob’s new name would remind him and others of this fight in which he had overcome. These words were full of hope to the Israelites. If one could contend successfully with God, he could then win the battle with man. Thus the name “God fights” and the explanation that Jacob had “overcome” obtained the significance of a promise for the nation’s forthcoming struggles.

“Genesis,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures,

A – We fight with God to have our way instead of his way.  Yet, God fights for us with us.  He will challenge our own will so his will is accomplished.  He also fights the enemy and his forces that seek to rob, kill and destroy us.  God does fight and it causes us to be grateful.

R – Heavenly Father, you are a fighter.  Thank you for fighting us and others so that your will is accomplished in us.  Empower us to build our faith so we fight you less and surrender to you more.