JACOB (& ESAU).. Momentarily speaking of Jacob only... If '2+2=4" ever hadda theme of life to it??  Jacob was the IT!!  Jacob's is amongst my favorite Bible inspirational true stories!! 😜

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Gave us 'Jacob's Latter,' took the position of heir successfully from his brother, unknowingly outwitted his Uncle Laban after what was supposed to be 7 years of work turned into 20, wrestled with God & renamed Israel, & built a well that GOD in the FLESH, Jesus actually drank from, JUSST to name a few!!  

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ESAU??  Well?!?  Prolly woulda went on to do great things.. But - sadly, spent most of his life po'd at his brother whom he saw as a 'coniving little shat!'  Mmbut, well get into all of that.. So lets go yo!!  

 

WITHOUT further ado.. The story of Jacob, uh (and Esau; will be in there as well!!)

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JACOB and ESAU; were born to blessed Isaac, (when he was 60 yrs old), and to Rebekah, in Beer-lahai-roi

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THE PREGNANCY & BIRTH;

Rebekah was uncomfy during the pregnancy, so she inquired of God as to why she was in discomfort. She received the Word from God (and prophecy), that twins were in-fact in her womb, and fighting in her womb, AND that they would continue to fight all their lives, even after born and they became two separate nations. The prophecy also said that "the one people shall be stronger than the other people; and the elder shall serve the younger" ~(Genesis 25:25 KJV)  I have seen several folk ask, "why Isaac didn't take the blessing back??"  And it even made it's way to Wiki.. This question really CRACKS me UP!! 🤔  (One thing you need to know about blessings.. THEY ARE NEVER taken BACK!!  That is nonsense!! 🙄) 

Upon the birth of the twins.. the firstborn, Esau, came out covered with red hair, as if he were wearing a hairy garment, and his heel was grasped by the hand of Jacob, the second born..

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The twins were as different as night & day..  9 And the boys grew: and Esau was a cunning hunter, a man of the field; and Jacob was a plain man, dwelling in tents.  : And Isaac loved Esau, because he did eat of his venison: but Rebekah loved Jacob.  ; And Jacob made pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint: < And Esau said to Jacob, Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom. 

= And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.  a And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?  b And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob. c Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright. (Genesis 25:27-34)

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As Isaac grew old, his sight became dimmed.. He called his son Esau, (Eldest; whom he favored because of being his first & the fact that they enjoyed the same favorite food, venison.)  He told Esau that the time had come for, 'the blessing.'  And asked Esau to go and cook him some venison for strength & comfort for the blessing. Now, Rebekah favored Jacob, and overhearing Isaac telling Esau that it was blessing time, & to go procure some venison.. While Esau was hunting, she instructed Jacob, to deceive his blind father by misrepresenting himself as Esau... Thereby obtaining his father's blessing, such that Jacob became Isaac's primary heir, and Esau was left in an inferior position. And according to Genesis 25:29–34, Esau had previously sold his birthright to Jacob for "bread and stew of lentils", thus making Jacob the RIGHTFUL heir.

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JACOB'S LADDER:

Isaac sent Jacob into Herran to take a wife of his mother's brother's house.. Near Luz, (that is, Bethel), which is in the land of Canaan, en route to Haran, (The ladder marks the general area..)  Jacob experienced a vision of a ladder, or staircase, reaching into heaven with angels going up and down it, commonly referred to as "Jacob's ladder." He heard the voice of God, who repeated many of the blessings upon him, coming from the top of the ladder.  In the morning, Jacob awakened and continued on his way to Haran, after naming the place where he had spent the night "Bethel,"  ((Meaning "God's house."))  A simple g search will garner you PLENTY of opines from different folk who believe THEY can interpret Jacob's dream.  IMO - God was simply showing Jacob of how He would bless him.  Is all... BUT opines very; and can be smelly.. much #likeabutthole!  FoSho!

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JACOB'S WIFE:

Upon the arrival of Jacob into Herran.. He spots his Uncle Laban's daughter, Rachel, Jacob's first cousin; she was working as a shepherdess. Jacob was 77 years old, Rachel was 14,  and he loved her immediately.  After spending a month at Unc Laban's.. He asked for her hand in marriage in return for working seven years for Laban.. Laban agreed to the arrangement. These seven years seemed to Jacob "but a few days, for the love he had for her."  When they were complete and he was 84 years old.. And God had blessed Unc Laban through Jacob working for him, he asked for his wife, but Laban deceived him by switching Rachel for her older sister, Leah, as the veiled bride. In the morning, when the truth became known, Laban justified his action, saying that in his country it was unheard of to give a younger daughter before the older. However, he agreed to give Rachel in marriage as well if Jacob would work another seven years. He agreed...

 

Jacob married Rachel, and he continued to work for Laban for another seven years. Jacob, having been celibate until the age of 84, (got down to bidness), & fathered twelve children in the next seven years.  He loved Rachel more than Leah, and Leah felt hated. God opened Leah's womb and she gave birth to four sons rapidly: Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah.  Rachel, however, remained barren. Following the example of Sarah, who gave her handmaid to Abraham (& after years of infertility), Rachel gave Jacob her handmaid, Bilhah, in marriage so that Rachel could raise children through her.  Bilhah gave birth to Dan and Naphtali. Seeing that she had left off childbearing temporarily, Leah then gave her handmaid Zilpah to Jacob in marriage so that Leah could raise more children through her. Zilpah gave birth to Gad and Asher.  

God remembered Rachel, who gave birth to Joseph and Benjamin.  After Joseph was born, Jacob decided to return home to his parents. Unc Laban was reluctant to release him, as God had blessed his flock on account of Jacob. Laban asked what he could pay Jacob. Jacob suggested that all the spotted, speckled, and brown goats and sheep of Laban's flock, at any given moment, would be his wages. Jacob placed rods of poplar, hazel, and chestnut, all of which he peeled "white streaks upon them  within the flocks' watering holes or troughs in a performance of sympathetic magic, associating the stripes of the rods with the growth of stripes on the livestock.  Later on, Jacob revealed indeed it was God who'd multiplied his herds, NOT magic.  As time passed, Laban's sons noticed that Jacob was taking the better part of their flocks, and so Laban's friendly attitude towards Jacob began to change. The angel of the Lord, in a dream told Jacob "Now lift your eyes and see [that] all the he goats mounting the animals are ringed, speckled, and striped, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you", that he is the God whom Jacob met at Bethel, and that Jacob should leave and go back to the land where he was born..

 

Jacob returned home without telling Unc Laban.  Laban pursues Jacob for seven days. The night before he caught up to him, God appeared to Laban in a dream and warned him not to say anything good or bad to Jacob. When the two met, Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have tricked me and driven away my daughters like captives of the sword?"  He also asked for his stolen teraphim back. Knowing nothing about Rachel's theft, Jacob told Laban that whoever stole them should die and stood aside to let him search. When Laban reached Rachel's tent, she hid the teraphim by sitting on them and stating she could not get up because she was menstruating. Jacob and Laban then parted from each other with a pact to preserve the peace between them. Laban returned to his home and Jacob continued on his way. 

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JACOB WRESTLES WITH AN ANGEL OF GOD:

As Jacob neared the land of Canaan, he sent messengers ahead to his brother Esau. They returned with the news that Esau was coming to meet Jacob with an army of 400 men. With great apprehension, Jacob prepared for the worst. He engaged in earnest prayer to God, then sent on before him a tribute of flocks and herds to Esau, "A present to my lord Esau from thy servant Jacob."​  Jacob then transported his family and flocks across the ford Jabbok by night, then recrossed back to send over his possessions, being left alone in communion with God. There, a mysterious being appeared.. ("man," Genesis 32:24, 28; or "God," Genesis 32:28, 30, Hosea 12:3, 5; or "angel," Hosea 12:4)​  and the two wrestled until daybreak. When the being saw that he did not overpower Jacob, he touched Jacob on the sinew of his thigh and, as a result, Jacob developed a limp (Genesis 32:31).  Because of this, "to this day the people of Israel do not eat the sinew of the thigh that is on the hip socket" (Genesis 32:32)..  Jacob asked the being's name, but he refused to answer. Afterwards, Jacob named the place Penuel (meaning "face of God"),  saying: "I have seen God face to face and lived." Jacob then demanded a blessing, and the being declared in Genesis 32:28 that, from then on, Jacob would be called יִשְׂרָאֵל, Israel ..

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In the morning, Israel, (formally Jacob), assembled his 4 wives, and 11 sons, placing the maidservants and their children in front, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph in the rear..  Israel, himself took the foremost position, fearing an ambush from Esau ~ he'd be first 

. Esau's spirit of revenge, however, was apparently appeased by Jacob's bounteous gifts of camels, goats and flocks. Their reunion was an emotional one. 

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JACOB & JOSEPH; & HIS COAT OF MANY COLORS; IN THE LAND OF CANAAN:

The house of Jacob dwelt in Hebron, in the land of Canaan.  Of all the children in his household, he loved Rachel's firstborn son, Joseph, the most. Thus Joseph's half brothers were jealous of him and they ridiculed him often. Joseph even told his father about all of his half brothers’ misdeeds. When Joseph was 17 years old, Jacob made a long coat of many colors for him. Seeing this, the half brothers began to hate Joseph. Then Joseph began to have dreams that implied that his family would bow down to him. When he told his brothers about such dreams, it drove them to conspire against him. When Jacob heard of these dreams, he rebuked his son for proposing the idea that the house of Jacob would even bow down to Joseph. Yet, he contemplated his son's words about these dreams. Joseph's older brothers had turned on him, apprehended him and ultimately sold him into slavery on a caravan headed for Egypt.   Later that day, the report that Jacob ended up receiving came from Joseph's brothers who brought before him a coat laden with blood. Jacob identified the coat as the one he made for Joseph. At that moment he cried “It is my son’s tunic. A wild beast has devoured him. Without doubt Joseph is torn to pieces.” He rent his clothes and put sackcloth around his waist mourning for days. No one from the house of Jacob could comfort him during this time of bereavement... It has ALWAYS ASTOUNDED me that Joseph's brothers just sat there KNOWING what they'd done; HEARING their father, Israel, weeping near EACH & EVERY NIGHT- and did NOTHING!!  That, IMO, is BEYOND ice COLD!!

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Twenty years later,  GOD had blessed Joseph, Joseph had found GREAT FAVOR with the king of Egypt, Pharoah.. THUS Pharoah put him in charge of Egypt's food supply..

 

Throughout the Middle East a severe famine occurred like none other that lasted seven years.. (as IF BY coincidink)..  when Israel (Jacob) was about 130 years old - he told his 10 sons of Leah, Bilhah and Zilpah, to go to Egypt and buy grain. Israel's youngest son Benjamin, born from Rachel, stayed behind by his father's order to keep him safe.  

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Nine of the sons returned to their father Israel from Egypt, stockpiled with grain on their donkeys. They relayed to their father all that had happened in Egypt. They spoke of being accused of being spies and that their brother, Simeon, had been taken prisoner. When Reuben, the eldest, mentioned that they needed to bring Benjamin to Egypt to prove their word as honest men, their father became furious with them. He couldn't understand how they were put in a position to tell the Egyptians all about their family. When the sons of Israel opened their sacks, they saw their money that they used to pay for the grain. It was still in their possession, and so they all became afraid.  Israel then became angry with the loss of Joseph, Simeon, and now possibly Benjamin... (Genesis 42:26-48)

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It turned out that Joseph, who identified his brothers in Egypt, 😉, was able to secretly return the money that they used to pay for the corn..  His keeping of one of his brothers, (who had SOLD him into slavery in the 1st place)... So they'd have to return..  When the house of Israel consumed all the corn that they brought from Egypt, Israel told his sons to go back and buy more. This time, Judah spoke to his father in order to persuade him about having Benjamin accompany them, so as to prevent Egyptian retribution. In hopes of retrieving Simeon and ensuring Benjamin's return, Israel told them to bring the best fruits of their land, including: a lil balm, a lil honey, spices, myrrh, pistachio nuts and almonds. Israel also mentioned that the money that was returned to their money sacks was peradventure an oversight on their part. So, he told them to bring that money back and use double that amount to pay for the new corn. Lastly, he let Benjamin go with them and said “may God Almighty give you mercy… If I am bereaved, I am bereaved!” (Genesis 43:1–14)  ..On this 2nd return.. Joseph revealed himself to his brothers..

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When the sons of Israel (Jacob) returned to Hebron from their second trip, they came back with 20 additional donkeys carrying all kinds of goods and supplies as well as Egyptian transport wagons. When their father came out to meet them, his sons told him that Joseph was still alive, that he was the governor over all of Egypt and that he wanted the house of Israel to move to Egypt. Israel's heart “stood still” and just couldn't believe what he was hearing. Looking upon the wagons he declared “Joseph my son is still alive.

I will go and see him before I die.” (Genesis 45:16–28)

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Israel and his entire house of 70 gathered up with all their livestock and began their journey to Egypt. En route, Israel stopped at Beersheba for the night to make a sacrificial offering to his God, Yahweh. Apparently he had some reservations about leaving the land of his forefathers, but God reassured him not to fear that he would rise again. God also assured that he would be with him, he would prosper, and he would also see his son Joseph who would lay him to rest. Continuing their journey to Egypt, when they approached in proximity, Israel sent his son Judah ahead to find out where the caravans were to stop. They were directed to disembark at Goshen. It was here, after 22 years, that Jacob saw his son Joseph once again. They embraced each other and wept together for quite a while. Israel then said, “Now let me die, since I have seen your face,

because you are still alive.” (Genesis 46:1–30)

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VERY COOL STUFF; Here ~ the remains of Pharaoh's palace where ALL OF THIS  transpired.. AND a recent STAGGERING find at the north section of the palace.. Joseph's statue was found during excavation!!  

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The time had come for Joseph's family to personally meet the Pharaoh of Egypt. After Joseph prepared his family for the meeting, the brothers came before the Pharaoh first, formally requesting to pasture in Egyptian lands. The Pharaoh honored their stay and even made the notion that if there were any competent men in their house, then they may elect a chief herdsman to oversee Egyptian livestock. Finally, Joseph's father was brought out to meet the Pharaoh. Because the Pharaoh had such a high regard for Joseph, practically making him his equal, it was an honor to meet his father. Thus, Israel was able to bless the Pharaoh. The two chatted for a bit, the Pharaoh even inquiring of Israel's age which he replied, "the number of the days & the years of my sojournings are 130 years ...130 years old... After the meeting, the families were directed to pasture in the land of Ramses where they lived in the province of Goshen. The house of Israel acquired many possessions and multiplied exceedingly during the course of 17 years, even through the worst of the seven-year famine. (Genesis 46:31–47:28)

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Israel (Jacob) was 147 years old when he called to his favorite son Joseph and pleaded that he not be buried in Egypt. Rather, he requested to be carried to the land of Canaan to be buried with his forefathers. Joseph swore to do as his father asked of him.

 

Not too long afterward, Israel had fallen ill, losing much of his vision. When Joseph came to visit his father, he brought with him his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh. Israel declared that they would be heirs to the inheritance of the house of Israel, as if they were his own children, just as Reuben and Simeon were. Then Israel laid his right hand on the younger Ephraim's head and his left hand on the eldest Manasseh's head and blessed Joseph. However, Joseph was displeased that his father's right hand was not on the head of his firstborn, so he switched his father's hands. But Israel refused saying, “but truly his younger brother shall be greater than he.” A declaration he made, just as Israel himself was to his firstborn brother Esau. Then Israel called all of his sons in and prophesied their blessings or curses; in the cases of Reuben, Dan, Levi, & Simeon (ISSH 🥶), to all twelve of them in order of their ages. (Genesis 47:29–49:32)

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Afterward, Israel died and the family, including the Egyptians, mourned him 70 days. Israel was embalmed and

a great ceremonial journey to Canaan was prepared by Joseph.  He led the servants of Pharaoh, and the elders of the houses Israel and Egypt beyond the Jordan River to Atad where they observed seven days of mourning. Their lamentation was so great that it caught the attention of surrounding Canaanites.. This spot was then named Abel Mizraim. Then they buried him in the cave of Machpelah, the property of Abraham when he bought it from the Hittites. (Genesis 49:33–50:14)

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~NOW THIS WILL BLOW YOUR MINND~

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