Jacob- His Almost Final Journey Series

Introduction: The end of any project, whether a report, book manuscript, or even messages like these are always bittersweet, in my opinion. There’s always the question of did I add too much or not enough; did I really think this through; perhaps other things as well.

Through this look at Jacob’s life, I’ve learned a number of things and honestly I hope you have too! Please let me encourage you to keep on reading the Bible for yourself. With the Holy Spirit teaching and guiding you, there is no limit on what any of us can learn—if we’re willing.

This last look, then, attempts to cover Jacob’s last words and deeds, but ends with a hope that none of us have encountered as of yet. As I write this in June 2022, it seems plenty of bad things are happening but our Lord is in control. He even said in John 16:33, “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” Amen!

1 Jacob’s biography

Various texts, Genesis 25-35

Isaac married Rebekah when he was 40 years old (Gen. 25:20) but they did not have any children until 20 years later (Gen 25:26). They were blessed with twin boys, Esau who was born first, and then Jacob. And then things began to get interesting.

Even though these boys were (fraternal?) twins—Esau was “hairy” but Jacob was smooth—they both began to follow different interests. Esau loved the outdoors, hunting wild game and the like but Jacob lived in tents and even worse, father Isaac loved Esau but mother Rebekah loved Jacob. Needless to say, the potential for conflict was right there.

Sure enough, Jacob took advantage of his brother’s weakness, namely hunger, one evening. Esau was apparently not successful going hunting and came back to camp very hungry. Jacob refused to give Esau anything to eat unless Esau traded a birthright for a bowl of stew and, for whatever reason, Esau gave in and made the trade. Was Jacob right to do this? Only he and God can settle that issue. This story is found in Genesis 25:29-34.

Jacob wasn’t done yet, however. Rebekah, his mother, came up with a plan where Jacob could steal the paternal blessing which Isaac had planned to give Esau, not Jacob. Sure enough, Jacob cheated his way to get the blessing; but Esau didn’t get much of anything, becoming so angry with Jacob that he began to plan a way to kill Jacob. Rebekah got word of this and arranged, with Isaac, for Jacob to leave for “a few days” in order to find a wife from Rebekah’s relatives. Jacob left, probably running for dear life lest Esau find him! This episode is found in Genesis 27-28.

That first night, Jacob made it all the way from Hebron to Bethel (estimates of mileage vary). Bethel was the place where Jacob saw the LORD plus angels ascending and descending a ladder between earth and Heaven. Jacob made a vow to God at that place and later kept it (Gen 28).

Later, Jacob arrived at Padanaram, home of his uncle, Laban. While there he married sisters Leah and Rachel. Each sister was also given a female servant, Zilpah and Bilhah respectively. Leah had at least seven children (six sons and one daughter), with each of the other women bearing two of Jacob’s sons. Genesis 29-30 tells how each child was born, with the exception of Benjamin, the youngest of the family. Benjamin was born years later, as the family returned to Hebron, where Isaac was living. Rachel, Benjamin’s mother, died while giving birth to him (see Genesis 35:16-21). We’re never told who helped raise Benjamin but whoever did this deserves mention as a true unsung heroine.

Yet, there were a lot of things which took place between chapters 30 and 35. Jacob wound up working 20 years for uncle Laban in exchange for Leah, Rachel, and an assortment of livestock. They left Laban, but he caught up with them at Mount Gilead and they had a very agitated conversation. Eventually each party left in peace (Gen. 31). Other events took place in chapters 32-34

2 Jacob’s final blessing

Text: Genesis 49:1-2, KJV: 1 And Jacob called unto his sons, and said, Gather yourselves together, that I may tell you that which shall befall you in the last days. 2 Gather yourselves together, and hear, ye sons of Jacob; and hearken unto Israel your father.

Word had already come to Joseph that Jacob was sick. This turned out to be his final, fatal illness but he was still able to pronounce his final blessing. He had already spoken a blessing to Joseph’s sons, Manasseh and Ephraim, and in one of the most gracious things ever, he elevated these two grandsons to the same status as his eleven other sons—to be heads of a tribe.