Genesis 27-28:9  Jacob, the deceiver.. the supplanter.. took the birthright of his brother Esau for a bowl of soup and now would take the blessing of his father Isaac by deception.   Jacob and Esau would have been in their 40's when this happened. Esau already had two wives, but Jacob had none.  Isaac was blind and thought that he would soon die, so he sent Esau to hunt and bring back some wild game for him to eat.  It would be a special event.. to bless the oldest son. 

But, Rebekah had a different plan and commanded Jacob to impersonate his brother.  He willingly took part in this scheme and received the blessing of the oldest son.  

This whole idea of the blessing is interesting.. . Was it like a last will and testament?  Legally binding? The blessing spoke of abundance and power and authority over the family..  When Esau came back and attempted to get a blessing, Isaac had no more to give... Esau realized that he would lose everything and he wept.  He swore to kill Jacob after their father had died. 

So, Rebekah begged Isaac to send Jacob back to her family in Paddan-aram, so that he could find a wife from her family.  And so, this is what happened.  Before he left, Isaac said to him, "And may God Almighty bless you and make you fruitful and multiply you, that you may become a company of peoples. May He also give you the blessing of Abraham, to you and to your descendants with you; that you may possess the land of your sojourning which God gave to Abraham."   

Isaac accepted the fact that Jacob would be chosen to inherit the land.. even though he had always preferred Esau.  God had told Rebekah before the sons were born that this would be the outcome. Isaac finally knew it to be true, not by his choice, but by God's will. 

28:10-22  Jacob headed north towards Paddan-aram and spent a night at a place that he would call Bethel.. "the house of God". Here is the place that Jacob meets God.  He has an amazing dream of angels coming up and down from heaven on a ladder.. and the Lord standing above the ladder.  The Lord says to Jacob.. "I am the Lord the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants..." The Lord promises to be with Jacob and to bring him back to this land.. " I will not leave you until I have done what I promised you." 

Jacob built and altar in Bethel.. a pillar that he anointed with oil.. "And this stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God's house; and of all that Thou dost give me I will surely give a tenth to Thee."  

Father in heaven, we see You grace extended even to one like Jacob who deceived his own father and ran from his brother.  You had a plan for Jacob from before he was born.. and You alone could bring him to be the man that he would become.. the father of a nation.  Thank You for showing us this place where Jacob met You, where You reached him and he came into a true relationship with You.  Thank You that You do the same for each of us who come to faith in Jesus.. You reach out to us and draw us into a true relationship through Jesus Christ, Your Beloved Son.  How marvelous is Your grace!  How wonderful Your works. Be glorified in our lives, Lord God, we pray in Jesus' name. Amen.