Author's Note: All previous volumes of this series are here. The first 56 volumes are compiled into the book "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible." "Part Two," featuring volumes 57-113, was published in December 2022.
Thanks for joining Part Four of our occasional series about “flawed biblical characters blessed by the Lord.” Again, the purpose is to remind us that God sometimes chose humans with less than stellar character to lead His people, fulfill a greater purpose, or build His Kingdom on Earth. Therefore, despite our shortcomings, He can use us for those same purposes according to His Will.
If you dared miss last week’s study — the first biblical case of identity theft — I forgive you. Now, let’s briefly review before meeting another member of the "Trickster family.”
Jacob — destined to become the patriarch of Israel — was born the younger twin grasping the heel of “older” brother Esau when birth order really mattered. Given those circumstances, Jacob willingly participated in a conniving plot conceived by his mother, Rebekah. Mom’s objective was to trick Issac — her old, blind, dying husband, into giving Jacob instead of Esau — the rightful recipient of Issac’s all-important, legally binding blessing so critical to ancient Israel.
Issac’s deathbed blessing transferred God’s Covenant to the father of the nation Israel, first bestowed upon Abraham — the twin's paternal grandfather. And since Mom loved Jacob more than Esau, she facilitated identity theft against her older son. Hence, after Esau discovered his younger brother had robbed him of his paternal blessing, he vowed to kill his twin.
But Mom had an escape plan (as all crafty moms do.) She informed Jacob that he was to live with her brother Laban in Haran — sparing Jacob’s life from his brother’s wrath. But Rebekah gave Issac a different excuse. She was “disgusted” with Esau’s wife, a Hittite:
“If Jacob takes a wife from among the women of this land, from Hittite women like these, my life will not be worth living.” (Genesis 27:46) (Why advice columns were started and counseling was invented.)
Issac agrees with Rebekah. But, before Jacob leaves, Issac blesses him with a prayer of destiny as the future father of the 12 tribes of Israel:
“‘May God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and increase your numbers until you become a community of peoples. May he give you and your descendants the blessing given to Abraham, so that you may take possession of the land where you now reside as a foreigner, the land God gave to Abraham’” (Genesis 28:3-4).
Then, during Jacob’s journey to Uncle Laban’s sheep farm, Jacob had a vivid dream and saw a “stairway to heaven.” (Friends are asking, a husband is laughing, “Did Myra finally find an excuse to link “Stairway to Heaven” in her Bible study?)
At the top of this heavenly stairway (ladder in some translations), Jacob saw God, who said:
“‘I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Issac.’” Then God officially transferred the Covenant of Abraham to Jacob saying: “‘I will give you and your descendants the land on which you are lying’”(Genesis 28:10-22) abbreviated.
So when and how did Jacob reform and change his deceitful ways? It started when Jacob had that stairway encounter — understanding the seriousness of the Covenant he inherited — even if by deceit. And, because of the Covenant, God would always protect him. Nonetheless, the Lord had some surprises in store for Jacob from the “Book of Karma” (joke), subtitled “What goes around, comes around” — as it always does when you cheat or trick someone.
It turned out that Uncle Laban had a beautiful younger daughter named Rachel, with whom Jacob fell madly in love. However, Laban’s older daughter Leah was not as stunning. (But surely had inner beauty.) Then Jacob suggested a deal with his uncle and said:
“‘I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel’… but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her” (Genesis 29:18-20).
Jacob counted the years and told Laban: “‘Give me my wife. My time is completed, and I want to make love to her’” (Genesis 29:21). Let the wedding festivities begin! Indeed, Jacob, who honored his agreement, deserved to wed the lovely Rachel.
But recall that Laban was the brother of Jacob’s mother, Rebekah — a champion schemer responsible for robbing her older son Esau of his blessing — ensuring that instead, Issac blessed Jacob. Therefore, expect Laban to have inherited those same shifty genes as sister Rebekah. Also, recall in Vol. 171 how Jacob tricked Esau into selling Jacob his birthright. When Esau was “famished” after a day of hunting, Jacob just happened to have a tempting bowl of fresh stew. As written in the “Book of Karma,” “the chickens are coming home to roost,” and Jacob is in the chicken coop.
So, on the evening of the wedding feast:
“Laban took his daughter Leah and brought her to Jacob, and Jacob made love to her” (Genesis 29:23). Obviously, it was dark, perhaps she wore a veil, and maybe Jacob over-imbibed with the fruit of the vine. But:
“When morning came, there was Leah! So Jacob said to Laban, ‘What is this you have done to me? I served you for Rachel, didn’t I? Why have you deceived me?’ Laban replied, ‘It is not our custom here to give the younger daughter in marriage before the older one. Finish this daughter’s bridal week; then we will give you the younger one also, in return for another seven years of work’” (Genesis 29: 25-27).
Turnaround time! Jacob got to experience the same depth of deceit that Esau felt after learning that Jacob lied to blind Issac while pretending to be Easu, who Issac had originally requested to bless and thought that he was blessing. Similarly, Jacob thought he had married Rachel and slept with her; instead, it was Leah.
To make a long Genesis short, Jacob worked for seven more years to marry the real Rachel. Jealousy ensued between the sisters over their shared husband, while a “baby contest” created conflict. (Advantage, Leah.) Most important were the first sons of Leah and Jacob — Levi, the ancestor of the Aaronic priestly line, and Judah — the ancestor of David and his royal line from which Jesus descended. And then more trickery from Laban and Rachel.
Ultimately, know that God’s hand is always on His chosen, albeit sometimes flawed, chosen servants. And, He evens the score for His glory. Remember that when someone tricks or swindles you.
Myra Kahn Adams is a conservative political and religious writer with numerous national credits. Her book, "Bible Study For Those Who Don't Read The Bible," reprints the first 56 volumes of this popular study. "Part 2,” with same title, reprints Vols. 57-113.
Myra is also Executive Director of SignFromGod.org and National Shroud of Turin Exhibit. Both are educational donor-supported ministries dedicated to building a permanent Shroud of Turin exhibit in Washington, D.C. Visit the life-sized Shroud replica in D.C. and attend a Shroud event on July 20. Contact: MyraAdams01@gmail.com.
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