Our word for today is a name. And as we have seen God has something to do with naming children in the Bible beyond the understanding of their parents. This is what we find today as we are still in chapter 27 of Genesis. יַעֲקֹב Jacob, Israel. It is used 348 times in the Old Testament. As Esau cries out after missing out on his blessing he gives us the meaning of Jacob’s name. Genesis 27:36 Esau said, “Is he not rightly named יַעֲקֹב Jacob? For he has יַּעְקְבֵ֙נִי cheated me these two times. He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.” The root word for Jacob’s name יַעֲקֹב is עָקַב follow at the heel, seize someone by the heel, go behind someone, betray, to take the place or move into the position of, cheat. It is used 5 times in the Old Testament. Remember what happened during the birth of Jacob and Esau. Genesis 25:24-26 When her days to give birth were completed, behold, there were twins in her womb. The first came out red, all his body like a hairy cloak, so they called his name Esau. Afterward his brother came out with his hand holding Esau's בַּעֲקֵ֣ב heel, so his name was called יַעֲקֹב Jacob. The Prophet Hosea makes reference to this in Hosea 12:3 In the womb he עָקַב took his brother by the heel.
What amazes me with all of this is that God blesses Jacob in spite of his sin of deceit. This was not accidental nor a white lie but rather a well formulated plan. Genesis 27:5-11, 14-17 Now Rebekah was listening as Isaac spoke to his son Esau. When Esau left for the open country to hunt game and bring it back, Rebekah said to her son Jacob, “Look, I overheard your father say to your brother Esau, ‘Bring me some game and prepare me some tasty food to eat, so that I may give you my blessing in the presence of the Lord before I die.’ Now, my son, listen carefully and do what I tell you: Go out to the flock and bring me two choice young goats, so I can prepare some tasty food for your father, just the way he likes it. Then take it to your father to eat, so that he may give you his blessing before he dies.” Jacob said to Rebekah his mother, “But my brother Esau is a hairy man while I have smooth skin… So he went and got them and brought them to his mother, and she prepared some tasty food, just the way his father liked it. Then Rebekah took the best clothes of Esau her older son, which she had in the house, and put them on her younger son Jacob. She also covered his hands and the smooth part of his neck with the goatskins. Then she handed to her son Jacob the tasty food and the bread she had made.
Now I think Rebecca knew God’s will and was trying to trick her own husband into doing it. But regardless of the motive this was still deception something that we saw yesterday that God hates. It is amazing how God can take the sinful acts of people and bring good out of them. We see this throughout the Bible. So keep a watch out for it as we continue our journey. For today let’s close with this passage that God does not give up on us but is ready to pick us back up and continue to make us like him as we get back on his path for us. Philippians 1:4-6 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
