From Jacob to Jeshurun, the Jews model our path to Righteousness.
Jacob to Jeshurun, a beautiful picture of the Gospel story is hidden within a little-known name change. In this post, I will bring attention to the name change of Jacob to Jeshurun.
Whenever a key figure in the biblical narrative had his name changed, it was always significant. Both to him and the broader message of the unfolding story of God’s redemptive plan of righteousness. Probably the most notable name change was that of Abram. The Lord changed his name to Abraham.
Jeshurun means, ‘the righteous one.’ It is a name attributed to the Nation of Israel. But they haven’t yet earned that title. Their redemptive story is still unfolding. The world will soon see that God’s love, mercy, and forgiveness far exceed our understanding. The Jewish People began their journey many thousands of years ago. Christianity was essentially inserted onto the same path as Jacob’s descendants. The Bible describes it as ‘grafted into the branch.’
Sadly, throughout much of the last two thousand years, many in the Christian Church believe they replaced the Jews. And they are no longer a part of God’s plan.
God Forbid! That was how the Apostle Paul phrased it. The Jewish People will end up with the same righteousness that Abram first pursued. As Christians, we are on that same path. All who pursue God’s righteousness with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength will end up at the same destination.
In the following quote from the Life Hope & Truth Blog, we read the following.
Abram to Abraham
His original name, Abram, means “exalted father” in Hebrew. His new name, Abraham, means “father of a multitude” (Brown-Driver-Briggs Hebrew Lexicon).
Abraham’s name now represented how he was being used by God: as the beginning of a nation through whom God would work. We also read that his wife Sarai’s name was changed to Sarah (verse 15).
Jacob to Israel
In this article, I am addressing a name change that probably very few Christians are aware of. And not because they aren’t paying attention. Really, it isn’t well-known because, from a practical sense, the change hasn’t happened yet. I’m talking about Jacob the Patriarch. Of course, most Jewish believers and many Christians are aware That God changed Jacob’s name to Israel. Well, as I indicated in my opening paragraph, any changes have significant meaning. Just below is another quote from the Life Hope & Truth Blog.
The name Jacob means “heel-catcher” or “supplanter.” (To supplant can mean “to take the place of or substitute” and can involve trickery or deceit.) Jacob had been true to his name, taking Esau’s place and receiving his birthright and blessings by trickery.
The Man spoke again: “Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel: for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed” (Genesis 32:28).
Israel. Jacob’s new name given by God Himself had deep meaning: “prince with God,” “power with God,” and “prevailer with God” (to prevail means “to overcome or rule”).
And yes, many people are aware of the above name change. But there is another name change coming for the Patriarch. When the key chapters of God’s redemptive plan are finished, we will witness a change from Jacob to Jeshurun.
As we continue our consideration of this, let’s read part of the Bible Hub Bible Commentary in which this subject is discussed.
MacLaren’s Expositions
Isaiah
JACOB-ISRAEL-JESHURUN
You observe that there are here three different names applied to the Jewish nation. Two of them, namely Jacob and Israel, were borne by their great ancestor, and by him transmitted to his descendants. The third was never borne by him, and is applied to the people only here and in the Book of Deuteronomy.
The occurrence of all three here is very remarkable, and the order in which they stand is not accidental. The prophet begins with the name that belonged to the patriarch by birth, the name of nature, which contained some indications of character. He passes on to the name which commemorated the mysterious conflict where, as a prince, Jacob had power with God and prevailed. He ends with the name Jeshurun, of which the meaning is ‘the righteous one,’ and which was bestowed upon the people as a reminder of what they ought to be.
Now, as I take it, the occurrence of these names here, and their sequence, may teach us some very important lessons; and it is simply to these lessons, and not at all to the context, that I ask your attention.
The Bible is very clear. God’s mercy and promises to Abraham will be fulfilled. The Nation of Israel will be saved. They will no longer be Israel or Jacob. Their complete name change will go from Jacob to Jeshurun. But that will only happen after the terrible wars and devastation as written in the Book of Revelation and many other passages.
Different People, same Journey to Righteousness
The Jewish people are walking the same path that many Christians have already walked. Consider the typical Jewish man, woman, or child who seeks to follow the Torah. They will try to follow in the same steps as Father Abraham. The Lord Almighty called him out of the idolatrous city of Ur. He went, faithfully believing the Lord would guide him. And he was right. But of course, after Abraham, the great prophet Moses wrote down the Torah after the Israelites grudgingly followed Moses and the Lord out of slavery in Egypt. Unfortunately, the initial writings of the Torah, the Ten Commandments, were broken and had to be redone. Because the Jewish people were just like the rest of humanity. And that includes every Christian too.
We are all brothers, sisters, and family members of the same sinful flesh. The Jews needed a Savior, as do the Christians, and the entirety of Humanity.
We all walk that same difficult path if we are to find righteousness at the end of our journeys.
In Isaiah 44:1-2, we encounter three distinct names for the Jewish nation: Jacob, Israel, and Jeshurun. Each name carries unique significance, shedding light on the path of personal transformation, the essence of the Christian life, and God’s merciful judgment of His people.
Isaiah 44:1
“But now listen, Jacob, my servant, Israel, whom I have chosen.”
Isaiah 44:2
This is what the LORD says – he who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you. Do not be afraid, Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.
I. The Path of Jacob to Jeshurun is one of Transformation
The journey from a “Jacob” to a “righteous one” or “Jeshurun” is marked by a profound transformation. Jacob, the supplanter, symbolizes the natural disposition of a person, often characterized by cunning and self-interest. However, Jacob’s encounter with God at Peniel began a remarkable change in his character.
In his wrestling with God, Jacob experienced a shift from self-serving ambition to seeking higher blessings and divine communion. As this transformation began after a night of wrestling, The Angel of the Lord gave him a new name. “Israel” or “Prince with God.” Similarly, as Christians, we can only attain righteousness by embracing a Peniel-like experience—coming to terms with our weaknesses. In a sense, we wrestle with the Lord too. Allowing God to break our will and selfish nature. From that humble position, we learn to seek communion with God through Jesus Christ and His Word. If we follow well, a deep transformation of our character often results.
Unlike the futile efforts of self-improvement, the road to true righteousness leads through encountering God’s presence and dying to our selfishness. When we ‘carry our own cross’ we die to our desires and self-importance. Only then can true transformation occur.
II. The Christian Journey follows the Jacob to Jeshurun pattern: From Forgiveness to Righteousness
Some believe that forgiveness of past sins and communion with God suffices as the essence of Christianity. However, the order of the names—Jacob, Israel, Jeshurun—emphasizes that righteousness is the ultimate goal. True Christianity is far more than an initial prayer for the Lord to forgive sins. And even trying to live a good Christian life, according to the Bible, is often just an attempt to present our own form of self-righteousness.
The Apostle Paul did a masterful job of presenting God’s accepted righteousness. The entire Book of Romans, in my opinion, is Paul’s greatest and most important work. In it, he details the struggle that all of us go through. We cannot attain our own righteousness. That road will never lead to God. The Jewish man, or the Hindu, or Muslim man, finds the same difficult road.
True righteousness is only found in dying to one’s self and accepting Christ’s personal sacrifice as our way through the narrow gate that leads to God’s favor.
III. God will take the Patriarch from Jacob to Jeshurun, ‘the Righteous One.’
Despite the imperfections and sins of the Jewish nation, God graciously called them “Jeshurun” or “the righteous one.” He sees their future. Though they were, and still are, rebellious, one day, a miraculous transformation will take place.
Likewise, Christians are often called “saints” regardless of their current imperfections. God sees the potential in His children, knowing that true righteousness will follow if they humbly submit their selfish desires.
In conclusion, the names Jacob, Israel, and Jeshurun offer profound insights into personal transformation. Whether the Christian, Jew, Muslim, or atheist, the journey to right standing with God must go through the sacrifice on the cross at Calvary. and God’s merciful judgment.
Jacob to Jeshurun. A someday-change for Jewish believers.
Unfortunately, most of humanity rejects that truth. And for that, judgment is unavoidable.
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The Antichrist
The mysterious man called the Antichrist struck fear in me the first several times I heard about him. The Exorcist movie was in the theatres around that time and I was foolish enough to watch it on the big screen. Since I was scared of the Antichrist before then, I was terrified after watching that sickening girl’s head spin around on her neck, spewing vomit, and cursing those ill-equipped priests who were in over their heads against the forces of darkness.
Yes, I was afraid, but so were a lot of us.
When I first heard about the Antichrist I was a young Christian attending Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa California. The Pastor, Chuck Smith, was an older man who had a strong appeal to the growing masses of young believers who were attending his church. I liked his teaching style as did a lot of us teens and young adults. Every week the church was full of young people like me who flocked to the church.
A disciple of Christ
This book presents to you the teachings of a very old disciple of Christ. The old disciple’s name is Hippolytus. He was an ardent defender of the teachings of the early disciples. He was an early disciple himself, but he was very well aware of the many false teachings that were creeping into the church and affecting the truth of scripture. One of his more renowned writings was called, ‘Against Heresies.’ In it, he defended the word of God and the word of the first Apostles.
Hippolytus lived from around A.D. 170 to A.D. 236. He was a contemporary of a more famous Irenaeus and learned under the teaching of Polycarp and Justin Martyr. He was born only seventy years after the death of the last original disciples of Christ, the Apostle John.
The words and first manuscripts of the early church were readily available to a young eager student like Hippolytus. Reminds me of myself.
He was eager to learn and a staunch supporter of the Bible as the only important document when considering God’s truth.
What I have presented to you are his own words, originally in Greek, translated into English. The subject is the Antichrist, but I can assure you there is nothing about spinning heads or spewing vomit. He uses the scriptures only in drawing conclusions and leaves wild conjecture for us to get into.
Let me know what you think.