The Parent Trap Series

Who of us has cornered the market for craziness in our family? It seems that broken families and dysfunctional families are everywhere. There’s hope for even crazy families because of Jesus Christ. Great things can come from broken families.

Jacob’s life stands above the rest of humanity like a tall Colorado Rocky mountain peak over the horizon. More than a 1,000 years after Jacob died, his impact still lived on for the prophet Hosea said of him:

“In the womb he took his brother by the heel,

and in his manhood he strove with God.

4 He strove with the angel and prevailed;

he wept and sought his favor.

He met God at Bethel,

and there God spoke with us—“ (Hosea 12:3-4)

Jacob’s life works like a Russian nesting doll, for his life has one conflict inside conflict inside yet another conflict. What begins as a conflict with his twin brother Esau, moves to his quarrel with his eventual father-in-law Laban, to continual run-ins with his two wives (yes, he was a polygamist). Jacob’s family life is one quarrel wrapped around another.

We will follow him from his birth right to his deathbed in the weeks to come. As great as Jacob was, he will transform before our eyes in the weeks to come. From a scheming manipulator to a humbled man, Jacob transforms by the grace of God. We will see him used of God and watch in wonder as God starts a nation from his lineage.

Today’s Scripture

“These are the generations of Isaac, Abraham’s son: Abraham fathered Isaac, 20 and Isaac was forty years old when he took Rebekah, the daughter of Bethuel the Aramean of Paddan-aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean, to be his wife. 21 And Isaac prayed to the Lord for his wife, because she was barren. And the Lord granted his prayer, and Rebekah his wife conceived. 22 The children struggled together within her, and she said, “If it is thus, why is this happening to me?” So she went to inquire of the Lord. 23 And the Lord said to her,

“Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided;

the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger.”

24 When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. 25 The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. 26 Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau’s heel, so his name was called Jacob. Isaac was sixty years old when she bore them.

27 When the boys grew up, Esau was a skillful hunter, a man of the field, while Jacob was a quiet man, dwelling in tents. 28 Isaac loved Esau because he ate of his game, but Rebekah loved Jacob.

29 Once when Jacob was cooking stew, Esau came in from the field, and he was exhausted. 30 And Esau said to Jacob, “Let me eat some of that red stew, for I am exhausted!” (Therefore his name was called Edom.) 31 Jacob said, “Sell me your birthright now.” 32 Esau said, “I am about to die; of what use is a birthright to me?” 33 Jacob said, “Swear to me now.” So he swore to him and sold his birthright to Jacob. 34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he ate and drank and rose and went his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright.” (Genesis 25:19–34)

Here’s why Jacob matters. It’s not just that he comes from a crazy family and can help guide you through your next family reunion, it’s that Jacob matters because God’s choice of him. In fact, Jacob goes by another name, Israel. Yes, that’s right, the very nation of Israel will be named after Jacob.

Why Jacob is Important

This not just any family, for this is God’s chosen family – the one family He had chosen to change the very world. God’s promise to Abraham (Jacob’s grandfather): “And he brought him outside and said, “Look toward heaven, and number the stars, if you are able to number them.” Then he said to him, “So shall your offspring be” (Genesis 15:5).

God’s promise to Isaac (Jacob’s father): “Sojourn in this land, and I will be with you and will bless you, for to you and to your offspring I will give all these lands, and I will establish the oath that I swore to Abraham your father. 4 I will multiply your offspring as the stars of heaven and will give to your offspring all these lands. And in your offspring all the nations of the earth shall be blessed…” (Genesis 26:3-4).

God’s promise to Jacob himself: “Your offspring shall be like the dust of the earth, and you shall spread abroad to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south, and in you and your offspring shall all the families of the earth be blessed” (Genesis 28:14).