“Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but Israel, for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”

—Genesis 32:28

The name Israel means “he who wrestles with God.” It’s not about rebellion. It’s about persistence. It’s the cry of those who won’t let go of the divine, even when it hurts. That same struggle echoes not just in the Bible—but unexpectedly in Hulk Hogan, Superman, and America itself.

Sound crazy? Let’s enter the ring.

America: The Nation That Can’t Stop Grappling

America was born in tension—freedom and faith, individualism and providence. Our founding documents invoke God, but our courts push Him aside. We pledge “under God,” then debate His relevance.

Anecdote:

During the Civil War, Abraham Lincoln said:

“My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side.”

That’s the heart of the American wrestle: Are we doing God’s will, or just using His name? From slavery to Vietnam to the culture wars, America has often claimed to be a “city on a hill,” while stumbling through the dark.

Like Jacob, America walks with a limp—but still refuses to let go.

Superman: The Man Who Could Be God… But Chooses Not To

Superman is a god-like alien sent by his father from above to save a broken world. Sound familiar? He lands in Kansas, grows up with farmers, and has to decide what kind of savior he wants to be.

Anecdote:

In Man of Steel (2013), Clark Kent visits a church, wrestling with the decision to turn himself over to humanity’s enemies to save the world. The priest tells him, “Sometimes you have to take a leap of faith first. The trust part comes later.”

Behind Clark is a stained-glass image of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Superman’s greatest struggle isn’t against Doomsday or General Zod. It’s the same struggle Christ faced:

Do I use power to rule—or to serve?

When Superman dies in Batman v Superman—sacrificing himself to stop Doomsday—the resurrection imagery is unmistakable. He even rises again in Justice League. But the real battle is always inward: he has the power of a god, but the conscience of a man.

Hulk Hogan: The Immortal One Who Fell and Fought Back

Then there’s Hulk Hogan—America’s most iconic wrestler. With his red and yellow gear, cross necklace, and catchphrase “Say your prayers and eat your vitamins,” he wasn’t just a character—he was a moral icon for millions of kids in the 1980s and ’90s.

But real life isn’t scripted.

Anecdote:

Hogan’s match at WrestleMania VI against The Ultimate Warrior was billed as “The Ultimate Challenge”—a torch-passing moment. But behind the scenes, Hogan was struggling with fading fame and personal insecurity. Years later, he would face real-life scandals, lawsuits, and a racial slur controversy that cost him his career—for a time.

In the midst of cancel culture, depression, and near-suicidal thoughts, Hogan turned to prayer. During COVID, he posted this:

“Maybe God is telling us we need to take a break from everything, and focus on HIM… we don’t need a vaccine, we need more of Jesus.”

That was a man still wrestling with God, still trying to make sense of his fall and find redemption. Just like Jacob—he was bruised, but still clinging to the divine.

The Deeper Thread: Wrestling Means You’re Still Engaged

Superman could rule the world—but chooses to save it.

Hulk Hogan lost his way—but reached for God again.

America limps between ideals and reality—but still reaches upward.

All three remind us that to be “Israel” isn’t to be perfect. It’s to struggle—with faith, failure, purpose, and power—and not give up.

As one modern reflection puts it:

To wrestle with God is not to reject Him, but to cling to Him until the blessing comes.”

In their battles—whether against Doomsday, Andre the Giant, or our own national demons—we see mirrored the ultimate human condition:

We’re not called to perfection, but to perseverance—to wrestle with God and walk forward changed, bearing the blessing of the battle.