THIS MAN JACOB

Isaac and Rebekah gave birth to twins when Isaac was sixty years old (Gen. 25:26). Their names were Jacob and Esau. The Lord told Rebekah that two nations would be born to her. Esau became a hunter and Jacob a plain man. Isaac and Rebekah were like most parents, preferential to their children. Isaac loved Esau, Rebekah loved Jacob. Esau came in from the field hungry and sold his birthright to Jacob for a bowl of stew. Esau despised his birthright.

Years later Isaac became old and almost blind, knowing not when he would die. He wanted Esau to have the blessings before he died. Rebekah heard what Isaac told Esau and then plotted with Jacob about deceiving him. They would have achieved the blessing from God if they had only waited, even though they won over Isaac.Rebekah's scheme: ..Go fetch me two kid goats to make the savory meat, imitating wild meat. Isaac, being almost blind, was tricked into giving the blessing to Jacob (Gen. 27:29,30). When Esau found out he had been deceived of the blessings, he threatened to kill Jacob, after mourning for his father (Gen.27:41). Rebekah, on hearing this, called for Jacob and told him to flee to her brother Laban in Haran (450 miles from beersheba). Isaac called Jacob and told him not to take a wife of the canaanites (wanting to keep the lineage pure).

On his way to Laban's house Jacob took stones for a pillar to sleep on. While asleep, Jacob dreamed of a ladder reaching to heaven, angels descending and ascending on it. And the Lord stood above it and told Jacob the families of the earth would be blessed through him and He would be with him everywhere he went. Jacob knew the Lord was in this place and built an altar of the stones he had used as a pillar. He called the place Bethel, which before was Luz.

Jacob then went to Laban's house and was tricked into marrying his daughter Leah, instead of Rachel who Jacob loved most. He labored for Laban seven years for Leah, and had to labor seven more for Rachel, In all he labored twenty years for Laban (Gen. 31:38,41). Jacob outwitted Laban for the spotted flocks, taking a green poplar limb and shaping it into spots, while the flocks were drinking and they conceived and brought forth speckled flock. (Gen. 30:37-39).Jacob increased exceedingly by outwitting Laban by only putting the striped rods in front of the strong cattle when they did conceive.

Laban became different toward Jacob after this, god told him to the land of his fathers and he would be with him. Jacob sent for Rachel and Leah, told them how good he had served their father, and ".....changed my wages ten times, but God suffered him not to hurt me."(Gen. 31:7) . Jacob then sent all his goods, his sons and wives on their way toward Canaan land where Isaac lived. Rachel, Labans's daughter, stole her fathers images (idols) unknowlingly to Jacob as they left for Canaan land. Laban and his brothers pursued after Jacob and overtook him in the mount Gilead. Jacob had secretly left without Laban knowing for fear he would take his (Laban) daughters by force from him (Gen. 31:31). Jacob told Laban that whoever he found with his gods(images) their lives would be taken, putting the death penalty on Rachel unknowingly. The images were not found and Jacob and Laban made a covenant between them, then Laban early in the morning rose up, kissed his sons and daughters, blessed them and returned home.

Jacob then went to make peace with his brother Esau, who had four hundred men with him. This frightened and distressed Jacob that he divided the people into two bands (if one was killed the other would be saved) and took presents for Esau (Gen. 32:13) his brother. While Jacob was alone he wrestled with a man (angel ?) all night, dislocating Jacob thigh. The angel changed Jacob's name to Israel (Gen. 32:28 and Jacob limped upon his thigh, probably from then on (Gen. 32:32). And Jacob finally lifted up his eyes and saw Esau coming (Gen. 33:1),putting Rachel and Joseph behind everyone. Jacob bowed seven times to Esau and they both met and each embraced each other, kissed and they wept. God always works things out his way. Rachel died while giving birth to Benjamin (Gen. 35:17-19). I really got a blessing out of studying and writing this...... I hope each of you enjoy reading it. Wrote from my heart with love. Thanks Andy

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