The Way of the Wrestler
Rev. Chuck Freeman
Live Oak, October 17, 1999
This is the account of Abraham's son Isaac.
JACOB AND ESAU BORN AND SELLING OF BIRTHRIGHT.
When he was 40 yrs. old Isaac married Rebekah.
Isaac prayed to the Lord on behalf of Rebekah because she was barren.
The Lord answered his prayer, and Rebekah became pregnant.
The babies jostled within her. She inquired of the Lord why this was happening. This is
what she was told.
Read Gen. 25:23
When the twins came out of her womb, one was red, and his whole body was like a hairy
garment.
Esau - "hairy," Edom - "red."
His brother was born grasping Esau's heel. He was named Jacob.
Jacob means, "he grasps the heel," he "deceives," or "he
supplants."
Esau - skillful hunter, man of the open country.
Jacob - a quiet man who stayed among the tents.
Issac loved wild game. Esau was his favorite.
Rebekah was partial to Jacob.
Esau, famished from the field. Jacob cooking some red stew. Esau starving asks for some
of the stew. Jacob bargains with him, to sell his birthright (the inside track as the
oldest to the father's inheritance).
He swore an oath, selling his birthright to Jacob. Jacob served him bread and lentil
stew.
"So Esau despised his birthright." ( 25:34)
JACOB STEALS ESAU'S BLESSING
Isaac was old and could no longer see; calls Esau to his bedside. "Go to the open
country, hunt some wild game, prepare me the tasty food I like, so I may give you my
blessing before I die."
Rebekah overhears this conversation. She tells Jacob to go to the flock and fetch two
choice goats. She prepares them the way Isaac likes.
She dresses Jacob in Esau's clothes, and covers his neck and hands with goatskins.
Isaac: "You have the voice of Jacob, but the but the hairy hands and smell of
Esau.
Read Jacob's blessing. Gen. 27:27-29.
Jacob had scarcely left his fathers presence when Esau comes in with the tasty game he
had fixed.
When they realized the deception; Isaac trembled violently, Esau burst out in a loud
and bitter cry, "Bless me, me too my father!"
"Isn't he rightly name Jacob. He has deceived me two times now- my birthright and
now my blessing."
Esau wept aloud, please give me a blessing also.
Read Esau's blessing. Gen. 27:39,40.
Surprise, Surprise! Esau held a grudge against his brother Jacob, and planned to kill
his brother.
Rebekah learned of Esau's intentions and told Jacob to flee to her brother Laban's
settlement. When Esau is no longer angry I will send for you to come home.
She tells Isaac that if Jacob marries one of the disgusting local Canaanite women her
life will not be worth living.
Isaac calls Jacob and instructs him to go see Laban and find a wife there in Haran.
JACOB'S DREAM
On his way to Haran, Jacob stopped to sleep for the night. He used a stone for a
pillow.
He had a dream - he saw a stairway stretching from heaven to earth with angels walking
up and down the ladder.
Standing at the top was the Lord, who spoke; Read Gen. 28: 13-15.
Jacob awoke and said, " this place is awesome, I didn't know God was here."
He took the rock that he slept on, poured some oil on it and named the place Bethel,
" the house of God."
Ever the pragmatist, Jacob made a vow, If God comes through, giving me food in my
belly, clothes on my back, and returns me safely home, then the Lord will be my God, and I
will give a tenth of my blessings to God.
JACOB AND LABAN
Jacob arrives at Laban's place. He falls in love with Rachel, the youngest daughter.
She is "lovely in form, and beautiful." Laban tells him if he works for him 7
years he can have Rachel for his wife.
When the seven years were up Laban pulls a fast one on Jacob. He has a big wedding
party, but gives Jacob Leah, the older daughter. She had "weak eyes."
Jacob can't believe he has gotten a dose of his own medicine, and protests, "Why
have you deceived me?"
Laban - " It is not our custom to give the younger daughter in marriage
first."
Laban tells him if he works for him 7 more years he can have Rachel as a wife also.
Jacob agrees.
Jacob is involved in a fierce tug of war between Rachel and Leah, involving children as
a sign of favor. He has 11 kids with them and their servants.
He works 6 more years for Laban, 20 total. He manipulates the breeding of the flocks so
that he has the strong cattle and Laban has the weak ones.
Laban's sons realize Jacob's scam and tell their Dad. Jacob tells them turn about is
fair play. Laban cheated him, and now the shoe is on the other foot.
Just in then nick of time God tells Jacob it is time to return home. So Jacob loaded up
the family and headed for Canaan.
Laban is madder than an old wet hen and pursues him. God tells him that anything he has
is because of Jacob and not to harm him.
Laban confronts Jacob, "Why have you deceived me? You didn't even let me kiss my
grandchildren and daughters good bye."
Laban and Jacob came to a truce, and set up some stones as a boundary. They promised
they would not pass this border to harm the other.
Laban made him swear and oath not to mistreat his daughters or take any other wives.
Jacob complied. Laban kissed his family, blessed them and left for home.
Jacob sent servants ahead to tell his brother Esau he was heading home.
They returned reporting that Esau was coming to meet him with 400 men.
Jacob freaked out and divided his company into two groups so Esau would not kill
everyone.
Of the group he was with he sent 3 waves in front of him bearing gifts. "These
gifts belong to your servant Jacob. They are sent to my lord Esau."
He hoped these tactics would pacify Esau.
The night before Jacob was to meet Esau. He sent his wives, servants, all his
possessions, and 11 sons across the ford of the stream.
He alone remained.
JACOB WRESTLES WITH GOD
Read Gen. 32: 24-31.
VIBRANT AND PERTINANT MESSAGES FOR US TODAY
I believe we come into this world with a particular character, karma, archetypal
history, genetic inheritance; whatever you wish to call it, just as Jacob.
This character calls out to be clarified, purified, refined, transformed in some way.
For Jacob - deception. This process is more dramatic in some than in others. Mom to me- do
you think you would have turned out this way if your father had not been so harsh with
you?
At some point we will have a wilderness experience, vision quest, with the dark side of
our character, and our spiritual essence. This will happen ALL ALONE. No one can do it for
us or with us. Jacob "grasped the heel" of others, but must confront his demons
alone.
Life, Character, Karma, God, will wrestle with us. The phenomenon of Being, larger than
an individual life will initiate the struggle. "A man wrestled with him."
We will survive this wrestling match only by holding on for dear life. The dark side of
our character is being cleansed in our wounds. "The man wrenched Jacob's hip.. the
man said let go of me, for it is daybreak."
We may play stupid and deny what we are struggling with. "What is your name?"
But, we know in deep, dark moments, that we are wrestling with the disease and the cure.
The light and the darkness are "held" in the grappling.
DO NOT LET GO UNTIL YOU RECEIVE A BLESSING! Jacob got his blessing in the faint light
of dawn.
This blessing is a transformation, and integration of shadow and radiance, good and
evil. Illumination occurs. Jacob, one who deceives--- Israel, (God's chosen
people)"one who struggles with God, Reality, Conscience, His Authentic Self.
You will see the "face of God" (Peniel) and be spared, coming into the
fullness of your humanity.
A wound will be left with you reminding you of your weakness turned to strength.
"He was limping because of his hip." My stomach scar.
Your new name/identity will be confirmed in existential experience. Reconciliation is
its natural child.
Jacob approached Esau by himself, bowing to the ground seven times. "Esau ran to
meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they
wept…. (Gen. 33:3,4)
Jacob relieved and spent, looked his brother in the eye, "now that you have
received me favorably, to see your face is like seeing the face of God." (Gen. 33:10)
So Be It.
Copyright
©2006, Live Oak Unitarian Universalist Church.