Jacob’s story

We continue in Genesis, the first Book of the Bible, and we are introduced to a recurring theme that is found throughout the Old and New Testaments: the unlikely hero. The message is persistent and unmistakable—that God has His own measuring-stick for knowing who’s going to make a good hero, and doesn’t choose people the same way people do.

If you will recall, Jacob had to flee to his Uncle Laban because his brother Esau threatened to kill him—Jacob having cheated his brother and proven to be an all-around scoundrel. 

He was planning on working for his uncle until it was safe to return home, but then fate intervened in the form of Laban’s daughter, Rachel.  Laban had two daughters; we are told that Leah the eldest, “had lovely eyes” but that Rachel, the younger, was “well-formed and beautiful.” (Gen. 29:16)

Jacob fell madly in love with Rachel, and when he approached his uncle to ask for her hand in marriage, Laban agreed on the condition that Jacob work for seven years, first.  (You can see his point; Jacob had not shown himself to be top-tier marriage material, thus far.)

Since Jacob loved Rachel, he served his seven years without complaint. On his wedding day, however, Laban switched the bride without Jacob’s realizing it. (Must have been quite a party!)  In the morning, Jacob woke to find Rachel’s older sister Leah beside him, and not his beloved. (Gen. 29:25)

Upon confronting his uncle, Laban explained that the eldest daughter should be married first, according to custom. However, if Jacob was willing to work another seven years, he could also marry Rachel.

And that is exactly what Jacob did. Between the two wives and two maidservants, the household had twelve sons, each of whom went on to establish one of the Twelve Tribes—tribes whose lineage can be traced to the present day.

On his way back to Canaan to make peace with his brother, Jacob was challenged to a wrestling match by an angel. They fought all night, and in the end, Jacob prevailed even though he was lamed as a result. To commemorate the occasion, the angel changed Jacob’s name to “Israel” which means “He who has wrestled with God.” (Gen.32:25)

And so, the country—both Biblical and modern-day—was named after the unlikeliest of heroes; a con-man who founded a dynasty and—somewhat surprisingly—proved himself loyal in love.