Because of Esau’s anger, Jacob had to run away to live with his mother’s family in a far away land. Jacob agreed to work for his uncle, Laban, so that he could marry Laban’s daughter, Rachel (Rahil). After working for seven long years, Jacob was given the daughter of Laban as a wife. However, Laban lied to Jacob by giving him Rachel’s older sister, Leah, as his wife. Jacob was forced to work seven more years to marry Rachel. So we see that the deceiver was himself deceived.
After many years of work Jacob had many sons and grew wealthy because of the Lord’s blessing. He decided it was time to go back to his father, Isaac. Jacob left his father-in-law’s house and journeyed back to the land of Canaan (Palestine) where Isaac was with Esau. During this long journey, Jacob was protected by God from his enemies, and he was challenged by the angel of the Lord. Before Jacob met his brother and father, a very interesting event occurred:
So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.” But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.” The man asked him, “What is your name?” “Jacob,” he answered. Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.” Genesis 32.24-28
Jacob’s name meant “heel-grabber,” because when he was born he was holding on to the foot of his twin brother Esau. God changed Jacob’s name to Israel, which means “one who has struggled with God.” God had worked in the life of Jacob so that he was no longer a liar and a selfish man who ran from his sin. Now, he had become a man of faith, prayer and blessing. He was able to meet his brother, Esau. Esau welcomed him peacefully, and Israel saw his father Isaac again before Isaac died.