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We always talk about the Old Testament and Jacob.
He was the son of Isaac, who was miraculously born when his parents, Abraham and Sarah were old and could not have kids.
Isaac was a man of peace. He married the love of his life, a very beautiful woman and enterprising, Rebecca. After twenty years of marriage were born twins, Esau and Jacob. How should not happen, but sometimes happens, Esau was the favorite of his father, Jacob was the mother's casserole.
Esau loved to hunt and was strong and hairy at birth, a real boy. A Jacob had been given birth to a name that means "usurper, one who takes the place of another," probably because, coming from the mother's body, squeezing her hand with the heel of his brother, as if to take his place.
Esau became a man who worked in the fields, while Jacob preferred to feel comfortable around the tents with his mother (although jew, and acted as an Italian mama's boy!). A
Rebecca, before the twins were born, God had predicted that Esau, the elder, would serve the younger brother, Jacob (Genesis 25:23).
Perhaps she had said to Jacob, but Isaac does not seem to know, or perhaps had forgotten. In Anyway, Jacob, who was not only a smart guy and mama's boy shady dealer, one day, taking advantage of the fact that Esau was hungry as a wolf and would have given anything for food, and proposed to him the right to barter his birthright for a big pot of lentil soup. Not only was it a stunt or a joke between brothers, like when you exchange cards, but a real bargain.
Letter to the Hebrews says: "No fornicator or profane person like Esau is that for a single meal sold his birthright. In fact, you know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, was rejected, although the required tears, because there was no repentance in him " (12:16,17).
Spend time feels Isaac and Rebecca, who was now very old and blind, and said to Esau to prepare a good meal, after which he would have blessed, to formalize its position as the first-born heir. Rebecca goes on the offensive and, together with Jacob, sketched a ploy to deceive the father. An ugly story of lies and deceit that ends with Jacob receives the blessing, but has to flee from the wrath of his brother, Isaac, deceived and Rebecca who is forced to part with his favorite son, who never again see. If they had allowed God to carry into effect their plans, they might have avoided many problems. Who knows?
Jacob flees, scared, goes to live with an uncle, he too dishonest enough, that he deceives and exploits. Then he takes a wife two daughters of his uncle, who live a life of mutual resentments and jealousies. This whole story, and other details can be found in Genesis, chapters 27-31. It is an ultra-uplifting story. Finally
Jacob decides to return to his father, with servants, wives and children, cattle and wealth. Sketches out a reconciliation with his brother, but is terrified of the same. I pray to God, but his words are a mixture of fear of God, fear, anguish and remorse.
One night only stays on the bank of a creek. Genesis (ch. 32) says that a "man" wrestled with him all night. Was God himself who wanted to make them a new and different. Probably in the struggle to Jacob revived all his cheating, his lies, his deceit. Jacob resists (as we like!), But God insisted and finally hits him in the side so strong as to make it crippled for life (if you do not understand the good, God speaks to you with the bad).
At dawn, God is going to leave. And Jacob says, "I will not let go, until you have blessed me." He understood that this man was special.
God asks, "What's your name?".
"Jacob."
In the name was all the X-ray the character and life of Jacob and God led him to the point of truly realize that was what its name said, a usurper and a fraud. If you do not admit of being lost sinners, we can not have harmony with God
God said to him "Your name will no longer be Jacob (usurper ), but Israel (God fight) because you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed ". The spiritual victory lies in surrender.
"And what's your name?" Asked Jacob.
God does not answer, but blessed him. Jacob finally understands and gives a new name to that place. The name Peniel, which means "face of God "and explains:" I saw God face to face and my life was spared. "
The story has a grand finale, as in a movie once, when the good triumphs over evil: "The sun rose up when he left Peniel."
for Jacob, began a new life, although he limped. Sin always leaves a mark. But it is better to live as cripples, who spend eternity in hell to be straight.
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