Jacob

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**Jacob**, whose name means "a supplanter," was born with his hand grasping Esau’s heel. Jacob traded his bowl of stew for his brother Esau's birthright. He became very wealthy and eventually restored his relationship with his brother. At Peniel, God gave Jacob the name Israel, which means "prince with God". He was the father of Joseph, Benjamin and his ten older sons. He showed favoritism to Joseph by giving him a coat of many colors. This caused Joseph's older brothers to be filled with jealousy and hatred. Jacob grieved for many years when he believed Joseph was dead. During the time of famine, he was later filled with joy to learn Joseph was alive and was now the governor of Egypt and second-in-command to Pharaoh! Jacob was reunited with Joseph and lived in Egypt with his entire family until his death.

## Bible InfoScan

Jacob, whose name means "a supplanter", was born with his hand grasping Esau's heel. Before he was born, God told his mother, Rebekah, that "the older would serve the younger" (Genesis 25:23). As he grew up, Jacob liked to stay at home, and he was his mother's favorite son.

Jacob traded his bowl of stew for his brother’s birthright (Genesis 25:29-34). Jacob obtained Isaac’s blessing through deceit and fraud (Genesis 27:14). He then fled to Haran, and on the way, he had a vision of a ladder or stairway (Genesis 28:12). He served Laban, his uncle, for many years and married his daughters Leah and Rachel (Genesis 29:28). Jacob had 12 sons and a daughter. He became very wealthy but was still a schemer. He fled from Laban (Genesis 31:18), and on his journey home, he sent gifts to Esau to ask his forgiveness and to restore their relationship.

At Peniel near the Jabbok River, he wrestled with the angel of the Lord (Genesis 32:24). The angel changed Jacob's name to Israel because he had struggled with both God and man and had won (Genesis 32:28). Israel literally means "prince with God". Jacob was reunited with his brother, Esau. He asked him for forgiveness, and their relationship was restored (Genesis 33). However, after Jacob and Esau buried their father Isaac after his death, they never saw each other again.

God appeared to Jacob at Bethel, blessed him and renewed the covenant promises to Him that had been given to Abraham and Isaac. “Then God said, "I am El-Shaddai—‘God Almighty.’ Be fruitful and multiply. You will become a great nation, even many nations. Kings will be among your descendants! And I will give you the land I once gave to Abraham and Isaac. Yes, I will give it to you and your descendants after you."” (Genesis 35:11-12).

Jacob loved Joseph more than his older brothers. This caused much friction and jealousy, especially after Jacob presented Joseph with a colorful robe as a special gift. (Genesis 37:3-4). Jacob was stricken with grief when the older brothers handed the blood soaked robe of Joseph to him. He was deceived to believe that Joseph had been attacked and killed by a wild animal. “Then Jacob tore his clothes and dressed himself in burlap. He mourned deeply for his son for a long time. His family tried to comfort him, but he refused to be comforted. "I will go to my grave mourning for my son," he would say, and then he would weep.” (Genesis 37:34-35).

During the time of famine, Jacob sent his sons to buy grain in Egypt and was overjoyed to discover that Joseph was alive! Genesis 45:28 says, “Then Jacob exclaimed, “It must be true! My son Joseph is alive! I must go and see him before I die.” Jacob and his family did move to Egypt after being invited by Pharaoh to live in the best land of Egypt! (Genesis 45:18). Jacob had a surprise visit from God as he traveled to Egypt. “During the night God spoke to him in a vision. "Jacob! Jacob!" he called. "Here I am," Jacob replied. "I am God, the God of your father," the voice said. "Do not be afraid to go down to Egypt, for there I will make your family into a great nation. I will go with you down to Egypt, and I will bring you back again. You will die in Egypt, but Joseph will be with you to close your eyes."” (Genesis 46:2-4).

Joseph traveled in his chariot to meet his father when he arrived in Egypt. Joseph embraced his father for a long time and wept. “Finally, Jacob said to Joseph, “Now I am ready to die, since I have seen your face again and know you are still alive” (Genesis 46:30).

On his deathbed, Jacob blessed his 12 sons individually and also Joseph’s two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim. When he died, his sons took him back to Canaan to be buried in the family grave at Machpelah (Genesis 48-49).

## Life Lessons

* God carries out His plans in spite of the nature or actions of people.
* Security is found in a relationship with God and not in the accumulation of wealth.
* Your relationship with God needs to be personal.
* People can change.
* Love and treat your children the same.
* Refuse to give up.
* Bless others as God blesses us.