Genesis 27-28

       Time passed, and twins sons – Esau and Jacob were born to Isaac and Rebecca. When they were born , God said that they would become the fathers of two warring nations. Esau, the elder brother, would serve Jacob, the younger.

  When Esau grew up he was a skilful hunter. He loved to be out on the hills. He hunted and killed wild animals which he brought home to make the tasty, spicy stews his father enjoyed so much. But Jacob was different. He was a quiet man. He spent his time at home. And he was Rebecca’s favourite.

When Isaac was old he began to go blind. In those days, it was the custom for a father, before he died, to ask God’s special blessings on the eldest son. Isaac decided it was time he gave Esau his blessing. But first he sent Esau out to hunt for meat to make a good stew.

Rebecca overheard what Isaac said to Esau, and she made up her mind that Jacob should have the blessing. Isaac was almost blind. Jacob could pretend to be Esau, and Isaac would never know.

So, while Esau was still out hunting , Rebecca made one of her tastiest, spiciest stews from the meat to two young goat. And she spread the goatskins over jacob’s smooth arms and neck to make them feel like Esau’s rough, hairy skin.

Jacob dressed up in his brother’s clothes, and took the meal in to his father. The lovely smell from the food, and the feel of the skins, deceived Isaac. But he thought the voice sounded different. 

‘Are you really Esau?’ he asked.

‘I am’,’ Jacob lied.

So Isaac prayed that God would give his richest blessing, the blessing of the first son, to Jacob. When Esau himself arrived, the truth came out. But it was too late. The blessing had been given. Esau was so angry with Jacob that Rebecca was afraid he would kill him. So she persuaded Isaac to let Jacob go to her people in Paddan-aram, to find a wife.

Jacob journeyed north, alone and afraid. At sunset he reached a wild and stony valley. Here he lay down to sleep, using a stone for his pillow. As he slept, he dreamed he saw a great staircase stretching up to heaven, with angels going up and down it. At the top stood God himself, and he was speaking to Jacob.

‘I will give the land on which you lie to you and your descendants,’ God said. ‘I am with you. I will look after you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land.’

When Jacob woke up, he was very afraid, despite the comforting words. He was certain that it was God’s voice he had heard. Jacob made God a promise.

‘If you will be with me and protect me,’ he said, ‘and bring me home safely, then you will be my God.’ 

Jacob reached his mother’s homeland at last. He had stopped beside a well to ask about his uncle Laban. A girl came out to water flocks- and it was his cousin Rachel, Laban’s daughter! Jacob wept for joy as he told her who he was.

Laban welcomed him as one of the family. A month went by, with Jacob working for Laban. Then Laban asked Jacob how much pay he wanted. ‘I will work for you for seven years if you will let me marry your daughter Rachel,’ Jacob said.

Laban agreed; and Jacob loved Rachel so much that the seven years passed like seven days. But when the wedding-day came, Laban cheated and gave Jacob his elder daughter, Leah. He made the excuse that in his country the elder daughter must marry before the younger one. Laban was quite happy to let Jacob marry Rachel as well.  But Jacob had to work for his uncle without par for another seven years.

So Jacob had two wives- and an unhappy home. Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah, which made although she longed for children, had none. As the years went by, Leah had six sons and a daughter. Then, at last, Rachel  had her first son. She called him Joseph.

By this time Jacob was longing to go back home. But he had helped his uncle to become rich, and Laban did not want to let him go. ‘Stay with me, and I will pay you whatever you like,’ he said. This was Jacob’s chance. 

Jacob agreed. ‘And for wages I will take the black sheep and goats, and the ones that are speckled  or spotted,’  he said. Laban tried to cheat him, but God helped Jacob, and his flocks increased. Jacob became rich, but Laban’s sons began to hate him.

He knew that Laban would never let him go, so he waited until his uncle was busy shearing the sheep. Then he fled across the River Euphrates with his wives and children, his servants, and his flocks. Laban followed, but he could not persuade Jacob to return. Jacob continued on his way home to Cannan. As they got nearer, he felt more and more afraid. Was Esau still angry with him? He sent messengers ahead to make his peace with Esau. But they returned, saying that Esau was on his way with 400 men. Jacob turned to God for help.

‘O God,’ he prayed,’ you told me to return. I don’t deserve any of your goodness to me. Save me now from Esau’s anger.’ He choose a great number of sheep and goats, camels and cattle and asses, to give as a present to Esau. And he sent his servants on head with them. Then he and his wives and children crossed the River Jabbok at the ford.

That night, when Jacob was alone with his fears, a strange thing happened. A man came and wrestled with him all night till daybreak. Jacob did not know him, but he knew he came from God. And he would not let him go until he had God’s blessing.

After that night Jacob always walked with a limp, but he was a changed man with a new name- no longer Jacob, the man who had cheated his brother, but Israel, the man who had come face to face with God. As the sun rose, Jacob saw Esau and his men coming towards him. He had expected trouble, but instead Esau ran to meet him, and hugged him. Old quarrels were forgotten in the joy of meeting again.

‘Who are these?’ said Esau, as the family gathered round. ‘And what were the flocks I met?’ ‘The flocks are a present,’ said Jacob. ‘Please take them. For when I saw the look of loving welcome on your face, it was like looking into the face of God himself.’