Isaac married Rebekah and soon they were proud parents of twin sons, whom they named Esau and Jacob. (Do you know what these names mean?)
Now, even though they arrived on the same day, it was the stronger hairy Esau who managed to come out first with little Jacob holding on to his heel.
Being the firstborn, Esau was therefore beloved of his father Isaac. He grew to be a good hunter and herdsman bringing his father good meat everyday to enjoy. Jacob, however, became the darling of his mother, holding onto her apron strings. He was delicate by nature and stayed in the house most of the time.
One day, Esau returned from the hunt, famished and rushed to the kitchen, only to find his brother Jacob eating a delicious soup. He grabbed the bowl but Jacob protested loudly. Their mother came in to rescue Jacob and Esau had to give the bowl back.
But, as soon as she was out of sight, Esau said to Jacob, "Brother, I am so hungry and will give you anything for that bowl of soup. Tell me what you want and I will give it to you!"
Jacob took his chance and asked Esau for his birthright. This meant that now Jacob, not Esau would be considered the firstborn. Esau agreed but laughed inwardly because he was confident that this would never happen. He knew his father too well!
Some time later, this happened again and this time Jacob asked for his father's blessings that was rightfully to be given to the firstborn. Again, Esau gladly gave up the blessings for a hot, tasty bowl of soup, confident that his father would not disinherit him.
Time passed on. Isaac grew old and almost blind, although his other senses were acute. Fearing that his end was soon to come, he called his firstborn Esau and asked him to prepare one last meal of mouth-watering venison for him to enjoy. The boy, now a strapping young man, gladly left on this important errand, anticipating the reward he would receive of the birthright and blessings.
No sooner had he left, then Rebekah quickly prepared a meal herself and sent it with Jacob. But, knowing that Isaac was as wily as a fox, she dressed Jacob in Esau's clothing and strapped goatskin on his arms so he would appear hairy like Esau was.
Jacob, trembling in his sandals, went into the family tent where Isaac lay and said in a low voice, trying hard to sound like Esau,"Father, here is the meal you asked me to bring."
Now Isaac couldn't see but as we know, his hearing was very good. Immediately he knew that this was not Esau's voice. He said angrily, "Who is it?" To this, Jacob had to lie through his teeth. Isaac, not convinced, demanded that he come closer, and grabbing the boy-man by the hand, pulled him very close, sniffing him like a police dog.
"Hmm, you smell like Esau alright and your hand is hairy like his too. Fetch me my meal!" the old patriarch bellowed. Shaking and trembling, Jacob set the meal before his father.
The meal was cooked to perfection. Rebekah smiled from the recesses of the curtains that separated the sections of the tent as she watched her husband lick his fingers and burp in satisfaction.
Meal over, it was now time for the handing over of the birthright and blessings. Isaac gave both to Jacob without hesitation. You could feel the tension in the air as this was done. And, as Jacob thanked his father, Esau arrived at the homestead. Jacob fled from the other side and with his mother's help, escaped into the wilderness.
When Esau went into the tent to serve Isaac, he realised what had happened and swore vengeance. He went in search of Jacob but could not find him anywhere. Returning home, he cursed his parents and left home to become a vagabond.
Meanwhile, Jacob found his way to a place where he decided to rest for the night. Having nothing to lay his head on, he slept on a rock.
In the night, he had a dream. In the dream, he saw a ladder extending from the ground to the sky. There were angels walking up and down the ladder. Suddenly a voice spoke through the clouds, "Jacob, I am the God of your father and grandfather speaking. You are my chosen one. I will make of you a great nation, spreading in all directions." Jacob awoke from that dream no longer afraid but full of faith. He named the place Bethel - House of God - because he had met his God there for the first time.
Jacob later wrestled with God and got his hip broken but that was okay because God changed his name to Israel after that incident. And so began another great story which you will read in the next chapter, a story that will take you to another land to meet a different culture altogether.
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Jo
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