Jacob was the third Patriarch as recorded in the bible of the Jewish people. He was the second twin son of Issac and Rebekah, brother to Esau and was born after 20 years of marriage when Issac was 60 years old. Jacob was also grandson of Abraham and Sarah and himself had twelve sons and one daughter by his two wives Leah and Rachel. Jacob was later known as Israel after the birth of his youngest son Benjamin. The name Jacob means 'Heel' or 'leg puller' or 'Persevere with God' The name Israel comes from the Hebrew word 'wrestle with God' or 'God contends' During the pregnancy Rebekah was very uncomfortable so she inquired of God why she was suffering. She received prophesy that her sons were fighting in the womb and would continue to do so throughout their lives even after they became two separate nations, adding that one people shall be stronger than the other and that the elder shall serve the younger.
At the birth Esau came out first, covered in red hair his heel was grasped by the hand of Jacob. 'He who follows on the heel of one'. As they grew up Esau was a cunning hunter and man of the fields whereby Jacob was a simple man dwelling in tents. Issac loved Esau because he ate of venison and the elder son in Jewish culture was revered but Rebekah favoured Jacob. Later One day Esau returned from the fields desperate for the stew that Jacob had made, so Jacob offered him some in return for Esau’s birth right to which Esau agreed. Later when blind and near the end of his life Issac wanted to bestow Esau’s birth right upon him and ordered him into the fields to kill and prepare venison to eat so that he could bless Esau. Rebekah overheard the conversation and because she knew God wanted Esau to serve Jacob she quickly ordered Jacob to bring two kid goats from the flock so that he could take Esau’s place in serving Issac and receiving his blessing. Jacob feared that his father would realise his deception and curse him particularly as Esau was distinctly hairy and he was smooth skinned. But Rebekah insisted saying she would take the curse. So Jacob did as his mother had instructed, wore Esau’s clothes and goatskins on his arms and neck. Issac was suspicious because of the way Jacob spoke about God but smelling Esau’s clothes and feeling his skin he accepted that it was Esau and gave Jacob the blessing that was meant for Esau instead.
When Esau returned Issac was shocked at the deception but confirmed that Jacobs blessing should stand and would not give Esau the blessing that he requested. Esau was broken hearted despite having previously sold his birth right to Jacob for Red pottage ( Stew ) and vowed to kill Jacob when Isaac died. When Rebekah heard of his intention she ordered Jacob to travel to her brothers house in Haran and justified it to Issac by telling him she was worried that Jacob would marry an idol worshiping Canaanite as Esau had done.
After Issac sent Jacob away to find a wife Esau realized his own Canaanite wife was seen as evil in his fathers eyes and took the daughter of Issac’s half brother Ishmael as his wife instead. En route to Haran Jacob experienced a vision of a ladder or staircase reaching into heaven with angels going up and down it. He heard the voice of God who repeated the blessings upon him. Scholars believe the angels represent powers of Babylon, Persia and Greece each climbing a certain number of rungs before falling down at the point where each empire fell. Jacob feared that his descendants would never be free of Esau’s domination but God assured him at the end of days Rome also would fall. In the morning Jacob awakened and continued to Haran but named the place where he spent the night "Bethel" Gods house.
On arriving in Haran Jacob met Laban’s younger daughter and shepherdess Rachel and fell in love with her and asked for her hand in marriage in return for seven working years. Laban agreed but on the wedding day deceived Jacob by giving Rachel’s older sister Leah instead as a veiled bride even though it was unheard of to give a younger daughter before the elder was married. Laban did agree however to give Rachel if Jacob worked another seven years labour. Leah and her servant Zilpah gave birth to eight children. Rachel because she was barren gave her servant Bilhah who gave Jacob two children. God then remembered Rachel who gave birth to Joseph and Benjamin. Jacob then returned home with his wives and superior flocks which he had bred over the years. This angered Laban who pursued him for seven days but when Laban caught up with him God told him to say nothing bad about Jacob and they both made a pact to preserve the peace.
As Jacob neared Cannan he heard news that Esau had prepared an army of 400 men, apprehensive he feared the worst and sent on the best of his flock as a peace offering to Esau. Jacob transported his family and flocks across the ford which left him alone in communion with God and then a man came and wrestled with him until dawn. When the man saw that he could not win he wrenched out Jacobs hip from its socket but Jacob would not let him go until he had been blessed. From that time Jacob was known as Israel. The Bible tells us Jacob was wrestling with God himself not for supremacy but with Christ in his pre incarnate state. Fighting together for victory.
Shortly after Jacob and Esau make their peace and Esau’s pledge for revenge is softened by Jacob’s gifts. The two parted on good terms in Egypt. Jacobs settles in Hebron and his son Joseph is clearly his favourite which causes jealousy among his brothers and Josephs dreams of superiority led the brothers to plot to kill him but sold him into slavery to passing traders on their way to Egypt. Jacob was stricken with grief believing that Joseph was dead. A famine followed and Jacob sent his sons except for Benjamin to buy some grain in Egypt where Joseph recognises them and sends them home loaded with grain without revealing his identity but asking that they return with Benjamin. When the grain ran out Jacob tells his sons to go back and buy more also taking Benjamin with them. Joseph test the brothers to discern their loyalty to Benjaman and then reveals his identity as Joseph their brother to an emotional reunion. The sons return to Hebron to tell their father Jacob that Joseph is still alive and governor of all Egypt and that he wants the house of Israel to move to Egypt.
The entire house of seventy began to journey to Egypt. As God had reassured him that the house would rise again in the land of Canaan. Jacob and Joseph reunited at Goshen after 22 years wept and embraced together. Pharaoh allowed the house of Israel to settle there where they achieved many possessions and multiplied in number even during the worst years of the famine. Jacob died at the age of 147 having prophesised blessings and curses on each of his twelve sons. Joseph as promised carried Jacobs bones to the land of Cannan and gave him a state burial in the cave of Machpelah where Abraham Sarah, Issac and Rebekah and Jacobs first wife Leah are buried.
The twelve sons became the twelve tribes after the Exodus, there the Israelite's conquered and settled in the land now called Israel. Abraham, Issac and Jacob along with the twelve sons became patriarchs (Father- Rulers) The Patriarchs were far from perfect but they had faith in and followed God as faithfully as their human imperfections and frailties allowed. Today this patriarchal system may seem outdated but it emphasizes that God too is looking for us to have faith in him, that we do not have to be perfect to know him or be used by him. Because of his love for us, he wants to share his blessings to build not a religion or organisation but rather a worldwide family on earth.