PATRIARCH JACOB

Hello 👋 friends, it’s always good to see you. In this topic, we will be  discussing about PATRIARCH JACOB. 

Jacob is the second son of Isaac and Rebecca, the twin brother to Esau and the grandson of Abraham and Sarah. During Rebecca’s pregnancy, she’s always uncomfortable because of the continuous struggles between Esau and Jacob in her womb and she went to inquire of the Lord and she received a prophecy that she will gave birth to two different nation and they will be rivals all their lives, and the younger child will be stronger and rule over his brother. Genesis 25:25. During Rebecca’s child’s birth, Esau came out first but Jacob was holding his heel. 

As they begin to grow in different nature, Isaac loves Esau because he eat of his venison because Esau was a hunter. Jacob been a simple man was Rebecca’s favorite. Esau and Jacob rivalry started when Esau came back from the field/hunting, tired and hungry, he begged Jacob to give him some food so he can eat and Jacob accepted but demanded something in return which is Esau’s “birthright” and Esau agreed to sell his “birthright” to Jacob and Jacob gave him the food (pottage) in exchange of Esau’s “birthright”. Esau later regretted his actions but then it was too late.

Their father Isaac become old and blind and was unsure of death but wanted to bless Esau as his first son, so he told Esau to make a “SAVORY MEAT” for him and he will eat and bless Esau. But Rebecca heard their conversation and prophetically realize it was Jacob who Isaac should bless instead, since they were told even before the twins were born, that the older son will serve the younger son. So Rebecca quickly asked Jacob to bring two kids goats from their flock so he could prepare it and serve Isaac to enable him receive Esau’s blessings. Though Jacob refused, giving excuses that Esau is hairy that Isaac would find out and might curse him instead but Rebecca offered to take the curse herself. And Rebecca insisted that Jacob should obey her instructions which he accepted and did as his mother said and Rebecca prepared the “SAVORY MEAT” the way Isaac will love it and she dressed Jacob with Esau’s garments and put a hairy goatskins on his arms and around his neck.

When Jacob entered Isaac room disguised as Esau, it was hard for Isaac to believe it was Esau and ask “how could it be that the hunting went so quickly” and Jacob said, “the Lord your God brought it to me”. Isaac was still suspicious and asked him to come closer but the goatskins felt like Esau’s hairy skin and Isaac still in confused, lamented, the voice is Jacob’s while skin is Esau. Isaac still trying to find out the truth asked Jacob, are you truly my son Esau and Jacob answered, yes I am. Then after eating the “SAVORY MEAT” and drink, Isaac blessed Jacob with blessings meant for Esau. Genesis 27:28–29. “Therefore God give thee of the dew of heavens, and the fatness of the earth, and plenty of corn and wine: Let people serve thee: be lord over thy brethren, and let thy mother's sons bow down to thee: cursed be every one that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee."

As soon as Jacob left the room Esau returned from hunting and after preparing the “SAVORY MEAT”, he brought it to his father, and Isaac was troubled hearing he was deceived by Jacob but still maintained that Jacob will remain blessed. Esau was heartbroken by the deception of Jacob and begged Isaac for his own blessings . “Isaac had already made Jacob a ruler over his brothers, Isaac could only promise Esau, "By your sword you shall live, but your brother you shall serve; yet it shall be that when you are aggrieved, you may cast off his yoke from upon your neck" 

With this action, and the exchange of his birthright, Esau hated Jacob so much and began to have murder intentions towards his brother and Rebecca was wise to tell Isaac to send Jacob to Haran to his brother Laban so he could get a wife from their relatives, because they don’t want Jacob to marry a Canaanite woman. Rebecca did this so that Esau’s anger will calm down before the return of Jacob.

Jacob on his way to Haran become tired and was resting when he had a vision of a “ladder” reaching into “heaven” and angels ascending and descending and he heard God’s voice repeating many of the blessings upon him from the top of the “ladder”. Jacob waking up in the morning, and named the place “Bethel” (meaning God’s house), so he continued his journey to Haran. On Jacob’s arrival in Haran, he  saw some shepherds gathering their flocks to water them and Rachel (Laban’s younger daughter) was working as a shepherdess and he loves Rachel from the very first sight. After spending sometimes with his relatives, he asked for Rachel hands in marriage and agreed with Laban to serve him for seven years. And seven years seems to be like seven days to Jacob because he loves Rachel so much.  But after the completion of the seven years, Laban deceived Jacob by giving him Leah his first daughter instead of Rachel, stating it’s not done in their land for the second daughter to marry before her elder sister. Jacob was furious but Laban demanded that he should serve him for another seven years for Rachel and Jacob agreed. After the expiration of the seven years, Jacob finally have Rachel as wife and though he had been celibate until he was 84. Jacob love Rachel so much and Leah felt hated and God opened Leah’s womb but Rachel was childless. But afterwards, God remembered Rachel and she gave birth to Joseph and Benjamin.

And Jacob decided it’s time to go back home to Canaan and told Laban of his intentions and Laban does not want to let Jacob leave because he knows the Lord has blessed him because of Jacob. After serving Laban for many years, he asked Jacob his wages and Jacob suggested that, all the spotted, speckled and brown goats and sheep of Laban’s flock would be his wages. Jacob placed rods of poplar, hazel, and chestnut, all of which he peeled "white streaks upon them,"within the flocks' watering holes. And it began to have effect on Laban’s livestock because they started giving birth to spotted, speckled and brown goats and sheep. And Laban’s sons acknowledged that Jacob is taking the better part of their flocks and Laban began to hate Jacob. And God through dreams told Jacob that He has seen all the bad things Laban is doing and He has given him the best part of the livestock and it’s time for him to return home to his parents. Jacob took all his possessions and left without informing Laban but Rachel stole the “taraphim” which is considered to be a household idols from Laban’s house.

Laban was furious and go after Jacob for seven days but God appeared to him and warned him but Laban accused Jacob of tricking him and taking his daughters like captives, and asked for his ‘taraphim’ and Jacob knowing nothing about it, said that the person who stole from Laban must die. And they searched and getting to the tent of Rachel, she hides the ‘taraphim’ and sat on it and complained that she could not stand up because she was having her menstruation. Jacob and Laban then parted from each other with a pact to preserve the peace between them near Gilead. Laban returned to his home and Jacob continued on his way.

As Jacob approaches the land of Canaan, and afraid of Esau, he sent messengers to Esau and as he received the news that Esau is coming with his men to meet him, he does not know what to do. So he prepared for the worst and send all his possessions by night across the Ford of Jabbok. And been left alone, then a mysterious event took place and he wrestled with an angel till daybreak. Jacob demanded for a blessing and the angel asked Jacob his name (he replied Jacob) and the angel renamed him Israel (meaning he who rules as God, strong, someone who has prevailed with God). And Jacob named the place “Penuel” (meaning face of God) for he said, I have seen God face to face and lived.

The next morning, Jacob gathered all his four wives and children as they journeyed to meet Esau and not knowing of his brother’s intentions, he placed the maid servants and their children in forefront, followed by Leah and her children while Rachel, and Joseph at rear. But it happens to be an emotional reunion and Esau been happy for the gifts Jacob sent to him. 

Rachel died after the birth of Benjamin and was buried just outside of Bethlehem and he erected a monument over her grave (Rachel’sTomb) which serves as a pilgrimages and prayers till this day. Later Isaac died at 180 and Jacob and Esau buried him in the “Cave of the patriarchs” which their grandfather Abraham had purchased as a family burial ground.

Jacob loves Joseph so much and his siblings began to hate him and ridiculed him and he told Jacob about their bad deeds towards him. Jacob made a coat of many colors for Joseph and his brothers hated him the more and he started dreaming which implied that his family will bow down to him. He told his brothers about his dreams and they hated him the most and conspired against him and when Jacob heard of his dreams he rebuked Joseph and yet contemplated his son’s words about his dreams. Jacob and his family dwelt in Hebron, in the land of Canaan. His flocks were often fed in the pastures of Shechem as well as Dothan. One day Jacob wanted to know how things were going with his sons in the field, so he sent Joseph to his brothers to return with a report, but that’s the last time Jacob would see Joseph in the land of Canaan. As soon as Joseph’s brothers saw him coming, they conspired to kill him but later sold him to slavery on a caravan headed for Egypt. And they kill a lamb and sprinkle the blood on Joseph’s coat of many colors and when they brought it to Jacob, he cried thinking a wild beast had devoured Joseph. He mourns for Joseph and nobody was able to comfort him during his bereavement.

It was 20 years after because there was a severe famine in the land and it was told there was food in the land of Egypt. Now Jacob was about 130 years and in the second year of the famine, Jacob sent his 10 children to Egypt to by food/grain and Benjamin stayed with him in order to keep him safe. Nine of Jacob’s children returned with their stockpiled with grain on their donkeys and when they opened their sacks, their money was in their sacks which makes them to be more afraid. Simeon was held because they said the Egyptians considered them as spies, and now, they wanted to take Benjamin to Egypt to prove their innocence and also got Simeon released but Jacob was furious remembering the loss of Joseph, Simeon and probably Benjamin. He asked his children, how could they had told the Egyptians everything about their family.

They never knew it was Joseph who recognized them and returned their money and when they finished eating the grains they brought, Jacob/Israel told his children to go back to Egypt and buy more and Judah persuaded Israel to allow Benjamin to accompany them to Egypt to enable them prove their innocence and also return with Simeon. And Israel advised his children to take the best fruit of the land and also the money in their sacks back to Egypt, thinking it might be a mistake from the Egyptians. And finally he allowed Benjamin to go with them and said, “may God Almighty give you mercy... If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!". 

This time when the children of Israel returned from the second trip, they were accompanied by the Egyptians with the transport wagons and when Israel heard that Joseph is still alive and now a governor all over Egypt, and he wanted the house of Israel to move to Egypt. At first it was difficult for him to believe but looking at the additional donkeys carrying all types of goods and supplies from Egypt, he declared, I will go and see Joseph before I die. Now, Israel took his entire household of 70 and gathered all their possessions and headed to Egypt. They were given the city of Goshen to dwell and after 22 years, he was able to see Joseph again and they wept as they embraced each other and then Israel said to Joseph, now let me die because I have seen your face knowing that you are still alive.

Joseph took Israel and his children to meet Pharaoh the king of Egypt and he was pleased to meet them and gave them Ramses pasture since they lived in the province of Goshen.

Israel  had lots of possessions and multiplied exceedingly and he lived for 17 years in Egypt before his death. But before his death at 147 years, he pleaded with Joseph not to bury him in the land of Egypt but rather be buried in the land of Canaan with his forefathers and Joseph swore to do as Israel requested. When Israel was blessings the two sons of Joseph, setting in the right order, the eldest son Manasseh and the youngest Ephraim, he chooses to interchange it which displeased Joseph. Joseph trying to correct Israel but he refused and he declared, truly the younger brother will be greater than his elder brother. And he declared them to be the hairs of his inheritance. Afterwards, Israel called all of his sons in and prophesied their blessings or curses to all twelve of them in order of their ages.

Israel becomes sick and died, his family including the Egyptians mourned him for 70 days and he was carried to Canaan in a ceremonial parade organized by Joseph. When they get beyond the Jordan river to Atad where they observed another seven day mourning. The place was named “Abel Mizraim”. And he was buried with his ancestors in the land Abraham brought for a family burial ground. 

Israel had two wives and two concubines and 12 sons and a daughter. 

Reuben

Simeon 

Levi

Judah

Dan

Naphtali

Gad

Asher

Issachar

Zebulun

Joseph 

Benjamin 

Daughter’s name 

Dinah.

The  offspring of Jacob's sons became the tribes of Israel following their  Exodus, when the Israelites conquered and settled in the Land of Israel. 

The Eastern and Western Churches consider Jacob as a saint along with other biblical patriarchs. Along with other patriarchs his feast day is celebrated on the Second Sunday before the Advent (December 11–17), under the title the Sunday of the Forefathers.

There are many lessons that we can learn from studying the life of Jacob in the book of Genesis that will help us understand our unique purpose. One of the most compelling aspects of the Bible is how God is constantly working through imperfect people to do unbelievable things. Being flawed ourselves, this allows us to make a personal connection to the scriptures as we are in constant need of mercy and inspiration.

Thanks so much for your time, we appreciate and we will continue with the story of Joseph in our next post. Remain Blessed 

Peace ☮️ out.