Patriarchs & Beginnings
0 of 5 moments discovered
After he had taken the birthright and the blessing by trickery, Jacob had to run away from home for fear of his brother Esau.
He set out for Haran with nothing but a staff in his hand. He felt guilty, lonely, and unsure of his future.
“And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went toward Haran.”
Which object reminds you of the chapter Leaving Home?
Spending the night in the open with a stone for a pillow, Jacob saw in a dream a huge ladder set up on the earth, with its top reaching to heaven.
Angels were going up and down the ladder, and the Lord spoke from above: “I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest.” When he woke up, Jacob poured oil on the stone and named the place Bethel, the House of God.
“I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest…”
In Haran, Jacob worked hard, looking after the flocks of his father-in-law Laban through the heat of the day and the cold of the night.
Although Laban changed his wages ten times, God was with Jacob and made his flocks grow, showing him that honest work is rewarded.
“God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands…”
On his way home, Jacob prayed all night by the brook Jabbok, asking for God’s help before meeting Esau.
A holy Man wrestled with him until daybreak. Jacob said: “I will not let thee go, except thou bless me.” God changed his name to Israel, one who struggles with God and wins.
“Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel…”
Jacob came near to his brother, bowing down to the ground in humility.
Esau ran to meet him, wrapped him in his arms, and kissed him. All the fear and anger of the past melted away in tears of joy and forgiveness.
“And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.”
