Smoodock's Blog

Of the three Patriarchs, Jacob seems to be the one we are able to identify with most. In Jacob, we are able to see our own vulnerability. He was a deceiver, but ultimately, he was deceived, himself, both by his employer (father-in-law) and later by his own sons. He was dispassionate in taking advantage of his brother, Esau, but was overwhelmed with emotion, when they met years later. Jacob was flawed and his flaws were obvious. Therefore, those of us who recognize and bemoan our own flaws are able to identify with this Patriarch more than the other two.

Jacob was given the blessings of Abraham, but nothing came easy for him. Both Abraham and Isaac were given wives by their fathers, but Jacob had to work for the love of his life, and then he was betrayed and had to work as much again to keep her. Isaac was extremely wealthy, but, although he sent Jacob to Haran to obtain a wife from Rebekah’s family, he didn’t give Jacob anything to present as a dowry. Thus, although tremendous wealth was promised, Jacob began with nothing. The studies below offer the reader some clarity in the process through which Jacob came to be the third Patriarch, the one which would beget the patriarchs of the twelve tribes of Israel!