Jacob,+Rachel,+and+Esau

You discovered the life of Isaac and his kids and wife, now I am going to dig deeper into Jacob's and Esau's life. Here is what I learned: Ater the deception both Jacob and Esau split their ways. Jacob set out from Beersheba and started towards Haran. He came to a place where he had to rest because the sun had set. He took a stone and used it as a pillow. Jacob dreamed, in his dream that he saw a latter, reaching up all the way to heaven. Angels of God were going up and down it. The Lord was standing above the latter, and He said to Jacob: " I am the Lord God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac. The land on which you lie I will gove to you and your children. Your children shall be as the dust on earth and you will spread aboard to the west, east, north, and south. Yout families will be blessed. Behold, I am with you, I will guard you everywhere you go. I will not leave you until I hae done everything I have proised." Then Jacob waked out of his sleep and said : " Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it." He was afraid. " This is surely a place of God." Early in the morning Jacob arose, took the stone the he used, set it up for a pillar and poured oil upon it. He called the name of that place Bethel. Then he said " If God will be with me, and will guard me in the journey I am undertaking, and will give me bread to eat and clothes to wear, if I return again to my father's house in peace, then the Lord will be my God. This stone, which I have set up for a pillar, will be God's house, and of all that you give to me, O God, I will give a tenth to You."

Later, Jacob traveled and came into a village. There he saw people. Jacob asked them where they are from. From Haran. Then Jacob asked if they knew Laban, son of Nahor. They knew him. Jacob asked how he was. As they were talking, Rachel came along, Laban's daughter ( A.K.A. Rebecca's brother's daughter.) She saw that there were sheep that were trying to drink some water from a well, but the well was covered with a rock. When he saw that Rachel was trying to get the sheep to drink, he came and moved the stone. Jacob told Rachel that he was Rebecca's son, and she ran and told her father. Laban was happy to meet Jacob. Jacob stayed with them for a month. He worked for Laban. But Laban said that since you work so hard, that Jacob must get some sort of payment. [ At the time Laban had two daughters: Leah and Rachel ] So Jacob said " If I work seven more years at the end you will give me Rachel." Laban said that it was better than anything else, and Jacob worked for seven years. It seemed like a few days, because he loved her so much. Then Laban made a wedding feast, but instead of bringing Rachel over, he brought Leah ( older daughter). Jacob realized he was tricked and asked why Laban did this to him. Laban said that it was not right to wed the younger first, but if Jacob worked for seven more yeard Laban would give him Rachel.

 Jacob worked, and married Rachel. He loved her more than Leah. But Rachel did not bear any children, and was always unhappy. After 20 years, Jacob became rich. Laban didn't like Jacob anymore. And that is when God stepped in. God told Jacob to return to Isaac's land. So Jacob called up Leah and Rachel to tell them the news. They agreed. And they left. But they didn't just leave, they snuck out awway from Laban. In three days, Laban was told that Jacob fled. Laban took his brothers, and pursued Jacob for a week. But God came in Laban's dream and told him to not talk to Jacob, good or bad. Jacob's tent was near by Laban's. Laban came over to Jacob and asked why he left without telling him, that Laban could have sent him some supplies. Laban wanted to say goodbye to his daughters and grandkids. He told Jacob what God had said to him. Then Laban asked " If you wanted to go to Isaac's land, then why did you steal my family images?" But it wasn't Jacob that stole them, it was Rachel. Jacob said " We will search the tents then and if we find it, we will give them to you. And whoever stole it, will be killed." Laban didn't find any images in any tents because they were hidden on the camel's strap and Rachel was sitting on it. To seem less suspicious Rachel said that she would not get up from her camel to search because she was feeling ill. [ How fake!!!! ] Jacob became angry and wanted Laban to leave. But Laban wanted his things. So they made a deal. They made a heap of rocks and that was like a border between Laban and Jacob. Laban agreed, blessed the family, and left.
 * Writer's note: Isn't it a coincidence that Isaac was tricked by Jacob. And now Jacob is tricked, too. What goes around comes around.

Jacob sent messenger to Esau ( Who was in Edom) that he wants to see Esau. Later, the messengers returned that Esau will be coming with 400 other men. Jacob became afraid and he prayed to God that Esau would not kill him. Jacob sent all his cattle to Esau. They were sent to him by servants. He said to each servant that if Esau asks from who these things are tell him it's from Jacob. He was trying to make Esau forgive him. During the night, Jacob took his family and all their belongings, and passed over the ford of Jabbok. He sent them over. And now was alone, all night he wrestled an Angel. At daybreak the angel said that now you will no longer be Jacob but Israel for you have contended with God and prevailed.
 * Jacob recconects with Esau **

When Esau came, Jacob was very suprised. Jacob bowed to Esau, but Esay knelt down and kissed him and they wept together. Esay had enough. And so they forgave eachother. That day Esau left. And Jacob left to Shalem ( In Canaan). He called the land he settled in Israel.
 * Jacob reunites with Esau **

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