The Homecoming

Jacob Returns to Canaan

Genesis 31-33

Jacob lived with his father-in-law, Laban, for twenty-one years.  During that time, both he and his father-in-law became quite wealthy, because God blessed whatever Jacob did.  In spite of Laban's efforts to thwart him by changing the terms of their agreement concerning the herds many times, Jacob's flocks increased many times over, and he had eleven sons.  This aroused the jealousy of Laban's sons, and of Laban himself, to the point that Jacob became fearful that his father-in-law would kill him and steal his flocks.  After consulting his two wives, Rachel and Leah, Jacob decided to leave secretly for Canaan, while Laban was out of town.  Unknown to him, Rachel, who was pregnant at the time, stole Laban's household idols before they left.

Laban caught up to them on the way, and he was accompanied by a large band of men.  To Jacob's surprise, though, he didn't threaten to kill everyone, but complained profusely that his son-in-law had left without giving him a chance to kiss his daughters and grandchildren good-bye.  The one thing he was upset about was the theft of his idols, something Jacob indignantly denied knowing anything about.  Laban searched everywhere in the camp but Rachel's camel; she said demurely that she couldn't get down because she was pregnant.  The idols, as it happened, were resting comfortably underneath her.

After Laban left, Jacob began thinking about what lay ahead.  He and his brother Esau had parted on very bad terms; after all, Jacob had stolen both his birthright and his father's blessing.  Jacob was certain his brother would kill him and all his family, and take the vast flocks for himself.  He decided to send huge droves of livestock ahead of him, offering them as a present to appease his brother's anger.  Meanwhile, he and his family went off by themselves.  Perhaps if the gifts didn't satisfy Esau, they, at least, could escape.

On the night before he was to meet up with Esau, who was on his way, Jacob went off by himself to pray.  During the night, he wrestled with the Angel of of the Lord, until the morning.  The angel touched his hip, and caused it to go out of joint, but Jacob still held on.  He refused to let the angel go until he blessed him.  At this, the angel gave Jacob a new name; from that time on he would be called Israel, a Prince of God.  The angel refused to give him his name, but Jacob knew who he had met; he name the place "Peniel", or Face of God, for, he said, "I have seen God face to face, and lived to tell the tale."

The next day came the great meeting with Esau.  Once more, things did not go as Jacob had feared.  Instead of being angry, his brother greeted him joyfully.  He refused the gifts, insisting he had an abundance of herds and flocks himself.  He had long since forgiven his brother, and they were reconciled.  After the two of them parted, Jacob went on toward Canaan.  His joy was tempered by a great sorrow; Rachel, the love of his life, died on the way, in childbirth.  For all of that, Jacob, now Israel, was home at last.