The sun sets and signals the end to yet another day and as such we turn our eyes to the Old Testament. Today's reading covers Jacob's secret departure from his Uncle Laban's house,Laban's pursuit of Jacob, Laban and Jacob's covenant at Mizpah, Jacob's fear of seeing his brother Esau, Jacob's "wrestling" match with the Angel of the Lord (an OT name for Christ), Jacob's reunion with Esau and finally Jacob's settlement in Shechem. Here are some notes:
Laban's sons began complaining because they saw that Jacob was becoming more prosperous than they and their father were so they began to grumble. This grumbling in turn caused Laban himself to treat Jacob poorly; however, Jacob secretly fled and did not give Laban a chance to properly see him or his daughters and grandchildren off.
Rachel, for an unknown reason,steals Laban's (her father’s) pagan statues. JM notes these were most likely statues of nude women with exaggerated sexual features. Later on when Laban does catch up to Jacob, this is a point of great strife between the two. Laban searches for the idols with no luck, since Rachel is sitting on them when he searches. Rachel refuses to get up and great her father and uses the excuse that she is on her period. Most scholars believe she was lying to cover up her theft, yet more proof that sin begets sin.
Laban, during the covenant at Mizpah, equates the true God with other lesser gods which is why Jacob swears by "the fear of Isaac".
The man with whom Jacob wrestles with is not known until much later in the Bible (Hos 12:4 to be exact). He renames Jacob "Israel" which means "God's fighter" or "he struggles with God".
Even though Israel (formerly Jacob) prayed for God to change the heart of Esau and keep him safe, he still had doubts which is why he split up his family into three groups. JM notes that he put his maids and the children they had bore him up front, followed by Leah and her offspring and finally Rachel and Joseph in the back. It is quite clear that he favored Rachel and Joseph.
God had indeed changed the heart of Esau, as he greeted his brother with kisses and weeping. Israel (Jacob) even notes this when he remarks that Esau's face is like the face of God, noting that he can clearly see a change in his brother's face and heart.
Although they planned to meet up again, for some unwritten reason, Israel decides to settle down and the meeting between the two never happens.
