STORY OF JACOB

Another great prophet, and man of God was Jacob, Jacob was the son of Isaac and Rebecca and the grandson of Abraham whom 'God made the father of many nations.

Jacob had a twin brother Esau. Esau was the older of the twins. He became a great hunter and farmer and was the favourite of his father, while Jacob stayed around the house and became the favourite of his mother. For many years they lived, played and worked together in the fields. However jacob was jealous of Esau as he was the heir to his father's blessing.

When Isaac got old Jacob tricked him by pretending to be Esau. He managed to get his father's blessing.

When Esau heard this he was very angry. Esau begged his father to bless him too but Isaac told Esau that his brother bad come and received his blessing Isaac was angry and said, "Your brother, jacob deceived me 

Jacob leaves the land of his father

When Jacob heard that Esau was angry with him he ran away to his uncle's house in a distant land One night as Jacob travelled to his uncle's house he had a wonderful dream. In his dream Jacob saw a long, long ladder that reached up to the heavens. There were many angels going up and down the ladder. God was at the top of the ladder in the midst of a great light.

God spoke to Jacob, "Jacob, the land on which you are now sleeping shall be yours. I give it to you and your children and your children's children. All the people of the earth will be blessed through you and your family."

In the land of his uncle he married Lia and later Rachel. He had twelve sons of whom Joseph and Benjamin were his favourites. After many years he decided to return to the land of his father.

While he was sleeping in a camp on the roadside Jacob had a dream. God spoke to Jacob and said, "You will no longer be called Jacob but Israel. You shall be strong among men."

The next day while they were still far from his father's house Esau came to meet him. Esau embraced Jacob and forgave him. Jacob wept. Jacob showed him his children. Jacob said to Esau, "Let us be friends, be kind to me and accept the gifts which I have sent ahead for you."

The son of jacob

Jacob continued to live in Cannan for many years. After some years famine struck the hard. His son Joseph whom he had thought had been killed by wild beasts many years before was the governor of Egypt. He sent his sons to buy com in Egypt. Joseph recognized his brothers. He had them put in the prison. After three days he released all of then except one and gave them the corn to take to the people telling them to return with their younger brother. After soave time they returned with Benjamin. Joseph invited all of them to have a meal with him. They enjoyed themselves but still did not recognize Joseph.

Joseph could wait no longer to tell his brothers who he was. The brothers got afraid on hearing this. He asked them about his father. He told them not to be afraid.

Jacob takes his people to Egypt 

The brothers returned and told the story to their father. Their father was so happy to hear that his son was alive. He said, "I will go immediately to see him before I die."

 As Jacob was praying the voice of God spoke to him and said, "Go down to Egypt, for there 1 will make a great nation of you, I will be with you and I will bring you back."

Jacob left Canaan with his whole family and all his people. On meeting Joseph they had a great gathering. The king of Egypt told Joseph to give land to Jacob and his sons. Years later Jacob told his sons that God had told him that his twelve sons would be the leaders of the twelve tribes of Israel. He blessed his sons and told them that he wished to be buried in Cannan. When he died his sons buried him in the land of Canaan and retuned to Egypt.