Genesis⁷ 33&34

Genesis 33 and 34 end with two strong closing statements. In one, Jacob builds an altar and calls it El Elohe Israel. In the other, Jacob’s sons ask, “Should he have treated our sister like a prostitute?” Two endings—one full of worship, one full of anger—but together they bring us back to a very important question: Who is God?


As we’ve read Genesis, God keeps showing up with different names. These names are not random—they reveal who He is and how people experienced Him. So far we’ve met:


* Elohim – Creator God (Genesis 1:1)

* YHWH – LORD (Genesis 2:4)

* El Shaddai – God Almighty (Genesis 17:1)

* El Elyon – God Most High (Genesis 14:18)

* El Olam – Everlasting God (Genesis 21:33)

* El Roi – The God who sees me (Hagar’s name for Him, Genesis 16:13)

* El Elohe Israel – God, the God of Israel (Genesis 33:20)


Some of these names God reveals Himself while others are names people gave Him after personal encounters—real moments where they understood a new part of His character. In today’s passage, Jacob—now called Israel—basically puts up a signboard saying, “This God… He is *my* God.”

El Elohe Israel. Here “Israel” is not a nation yet—it’s the man himself. Jacob is making it personal. This is after finding calmness in his brother where he expected war and maybe calamity. It's more of a sigh of relief upon realizing God is really looking out for him.


This then opens a deeper truth: Describing God is a lifelong journey. You can describe Him in three ways:


1. As He reveals Himself in Scripture.

2. As others have experienced Him.

3. As you have personally experienced Him.


To Hagar, He was the God who saw her tears. To Abraham, He was the God who provided just in time. To Jacob, He was the God who stayed with him through every twist and mess. To you… well, only you can fill that blank. And it may change as you grow.


As we keep reading, we’ll meet many people and places whose names carry “El”—a reminder that God had touched their story.


Here are a few to get you ready as we keep reading:

* Daniel – God is my Judge

* Ezekiel – God strengthens

* Joel – YHWH is God

* Michael – Who is like God?

* Gabriel – God is my strength

* Raphael – God heals

* Uriel – God is my light

* Ariel – Lion of God

* Eliel – My God is God

* Eliab – My God is Father

* Elisha – God is salvation


Whenever you see “El” in a name, pause. Read slowly. There’s usually a story behind it—and a revelation of who God is.

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