"Jacob's Dilemma"

Genesis 27:41 "And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob."

Esau must have been thinking outload for Rebekah got word of the threat and told Jacob to flee to Laban's house to escape Esau's fury. At this point Jacob did not leave until Rebekah told Issac that she could not stand it if Jacob married one of the Heth women. Remember Esau did marry two of them and they were grief of mind to Issac and to Rebekah. She went so far as to ask "what good shall my life do me?" v46 . So, we see Jacob with little choice but to leave and go for protection at Laban's house. Esau is planning to kill him. Rebekah does not want him to marry locally and Issac will, in the next chapter, tell him to go find a wife in "Thy mothers brother..."'s house.

We can see a lot of Jacob's character in this chapter. He is not a shining example of integrity.

*He seems to have cheated a little when he was born by grabbing hold of Esau's foot. Well, can't really blame a baby for that.
*He charged Esau his birthright for a bowl of pottage - Of course, Esau should have treasured his birthright instead of despising it (chapter 25). Jacob did through in some bread.
*Jacob pretended to be his brother and deceived his father Issac to get a blessing
*Jacob told a few outright lies
1) When asked in v18-19 who he was Jacob replied "I am Esau thy firstborn"
2) v24 Issac again asked if he was Esau after feeling the disguise prepared by Rebekah and Jacob replied "I am."
3) v20 Issac asked him how he got the venison (which was goat meat) so fast and Jacob replied (very dangerously) that "Because the Lord thy God brought it to me." In actuality, Jacob had gotten the kids and Rebekah prepared them.

Well, to this point, there is not a lot to like about Jacob. Esau described him well when he said in v36 "Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times and behold now he hath taken away my blessing..."

Jacob's life is an example, as we will learn from his life later, that God can work with a bad person and bring forth good. There is not much to like about Jacob but don't give up on him yet. The Lord has a plan for him.

Proverbs 16:9 "A man's heart deviseth his way: but the Lord directeth his steps."