SCRIPTURES: GENESIS 33:20 And he (Jacob/Israel) erected there an altar, and called it EL ELOHE-ISRAEL [GOD THE GOD OF ISRAEL]. EZRA 1:3 Who is there among you of all his people? his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem, which is in Judah, and build the house of THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL [JEHOVAH EL ISRAEL], (he is the God,) which is in Jerusalem. 

THOUGHT: ISRAEL is the name that God gave to Jacob after he struggled with Him in the night, while on his return to his homeland (GENESIS 32:22-32). Jacob was concerned for his reunion with his brother Esau, whom he had defrauded of his birthright and of his father’s blessing (GENESIS 25:29-34 & 27:1-41). The new name, ISRAEL, has been used by Jacob’s descendants right up until this day, fulfilling God’s promise to Abraham of his becoming a great nation (GENESIS 12:1-3). And God doubles down on the promise but reissuing it to Jacob (GENESIS 28:13-15). After Jacob, now renamed ISRAEL, has met peaceably with his brother Esau, he immediately begins to worship the LORD God, setting up an altar and dedicating it to GOD, whom he effectively calls his own God, “my God”, THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL – JEHOVAH EL YISRAEL [GENESIS 33:20]. God wants to be personal with you too so that you to can worship Him not just as God, but call on Him as “your God”.

PRAYER: Dear Heavenly Father and JEHOVAH EL YISRAEL, THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL: You are not only ISRAEL’S God, but my God. I set up a daily altar of worship to You and call it JEHOVAH EL (_______________my own name) because You are not just God, but You are truly “my God” – JEHOVAH EL ________________. In Jesus’ Name, AMEN!