Jacob’s Wrestling and Blessings from God
Running quickly through the woods, Esau kept his eyes on the prize, which was quickly losing blood, for the arrow Esau shot into his prey was effective in slowing down the animal. His hunting partners hiding ahead scared the wounded animal into the deadfall trap, which quickly ended the hunt. Esau knew his father would be proud of him for once again providing the wild game his father enjoyed eating.
Not all the hunts were successful, and after one particularly long hunt, Esau returned to his father’s camp exhausted and hungry after many days of hunting with nothing to show for it. He smelled something delicious and found his brother was once again cooking something over the fire. Esau considered his brother “soft” and was jealous of the way their mother Rebekah doted on Jacob around the camp. Esau had enjoyed only a few of his brother’s prepared meals, but on this occasion, the lentil stew smelled so good he demanded a large portion. This time was different; Jacob hesitated about giving his brother any of the food he had prepared.
Jacob was quick to think of how to take advantage of his brother’s hunger. He told his brother he could have plenty of stew but only on a certain condition. So Esau thought little of the consequences and met the condition of giving his brother Jacob his birthright.
The wrestling between the two brothers began at birth and continued throughout their life. Jacob continued his wrestling by deceiving his father Isaac into giving his blessing of the birthright to him instead of Esau. Soon Jacob got wind of just how upset Esau was after realizing he indeed lost the blessing of his father over Jacob’s deception. Rebekah sent Jacob off to her brother Laban after learning Esau was nursing a grudge and intended to kill Jacob.
Jacob ran away to Haran to find Laban and on the way stopped to sleep for the night. God spoke to Jacob in a dream, and Jacob learned that God would bless him, his descendants, and even all the “peoples of the earth.”
Jacob’s deception and conniving nature caught up with him as his Uncle Laban tricked Jacob into working for 14 years for the love of his life Rachel. The wrestling continues with his Uncle Laban. Jacob decides to quickly leave the camp with all of his family. Laban finds out and pursues Jacob for seven days but is interrupted from any ill intent towards his nephew by a warning from God to not say anything about the matter.
Jacob was on his way, free from Laban’s anger after making a pact with him. He was having a really good day, and on his way “the angels of God met him.” Jacob was feeling so good He sent a message ahead of him to Esau his brother, whom he had not seen for more than 20 years. His good feeling changed to fear and distress as the messengers returned, stating Esau was on his way towards them with four hundred men accompanying him.
As it turns out, Jacob had nothing to fear from Esau, who was not holding any grudge against Jacob after 20 years apart. Although he did everything his own way and went against his father’s desire to stay away from the Canaanite women, Esau was successful and had more than enough material goods.
Although hoping to reconcile with his brother Esau, stating “let us go on ‘our’ way,” Jacob was still fearful of Esau and lied to him about meeting him at the town of Seir. Jacob went to the town of Succoth, away from his brother. The next meeting of the brothers mentioned is at their father Isaac’s burial. After 180 years of living, Isaac was buried by his sons Esau and Jacob.
Lessons we can learn:
Instead of trusting God to fulfill his promise, Jacob was often fearful and decided to take matters into his own hands. We should never use lies or deceit to try to force an outcome in our favor. Impatiently, we want the blessing now instead of later, so we bend the rules and use half-truths to make things happen according to our schedule. God’s timing is perfect and allows us to learn many lessons on the way to receiving our promise. Patience, trust, hope, and other blessings in faith are often learned only by trials or uncomfortable circumstances.
Sadly, Jacob’s deception continued a dysfunctional family relationship that would never heal. The conflict between the twin brothers led to hundreds of years of hatred and fighting among the descendants Israel (Jacob) and the Edomites (Esau).
If we have disagreements in our relationships with family, co-workers, neighbors, and even those we enjoy in Christian fellowship, let’s be quick to mend fences. Let’s do everything we can to build bridges instead of walls.
When the relationship is just too difficult to get along, too much wrestling, even after many attempts, remember a few bible examples to use, such as strategic separation and bearing with what seems impossible. Tools we can use include making space, granting allowances, and learning to live in peace with everyone.
Romans 12:18...if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.
Colossians 3:13… bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have.
1 Peter 4:8….love covers over a multitude of sins.
John Hendrickson
