Concise commentary and overview of Jacob's life.
Jacob wasn't born in the best of ways. Even in his mother's womb he was struggling with his brother! Upon being born he was given a name that means "He takes by the heel" or "He cheats".
Growing up he was the calm but innocous boy who stayed around the tents while his older brother Esau worked the fields as a skillful hunter. As Jacob admired Esau for his talents, Jacob honed his talent for "grabbing" what wasn't his early on.
Jacob grows up quite different than his older brother Esau and uses his skills against him. He first hustles his brother out of his birthright (Gen 25:29-34), then by the prompting of his mother he lies to his father and steals his brother's blessing (Gen 27). This fumes Esau to the point of wanting to kill Jacob, who then flees to Haran.
On the way he is visited by a dream of a ladder and the Lord God bestowing on him the blessing of Abraham and Isaac. After working for Laban seven years to marry his daughter Rachel, he has to work yet a seven more because of Laban's deception. After departing with Laban, the Lord blesses Jacob not only with many children but much riches and livestock to the chargrin of Laban. Then, the Lord prompts Jacob to return to the land of his fathers and that the Lord will be with him. All this time Jacob knowing that Esau may await with vengence on his mind still obeys the Lord and goes.
Before he gets there he hears his brother has hundreds of men with him, and split his camp just in case of trouble. At night Jacob took all he had except himself over the ford of Jabbok and once alone wrestled with a man; a man, who once not prevailing against Jacob, just touched his hip socket and Jacob's hip was instantly out of joint. Jacob did not let the man go until he blessed him, which the man did and pronounced that Jacob shall be called Israel. The next day Jacob for the first time went ahead of his family and met Esau alone and vulnerable. Esau not only met him warmly, but with tears and gladness.
The point of the story is that if you think you have quite the "rap" sheet, if you struggle with how God could love you or how you could accept Him, see how a man of history of the Hebrew people was blessed in spite of his faults. And with Christ as our propitiation of sins, you too can receive blessing from God now, even now because of the free gift of eternal life through his sacrifice for our sins. There is no more need to struggle. Come, ask for God to forgive you and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ to bless you with love and acceptance (Romans 10:9-11)
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