Two Brothers... and Bernard

Erica Clark meets Bernard Walton by the school flagpole after class, eager to hear what happens to Jacob and Esau. Bernard resumes with Jacob’s arrival in Haran. At a well, Jacob meets shepherds waiting to water their animals according to local custom. Rachel, the daughter of his uncle Laban, arrives with her father’s flock. Jacob rolls away the heavy wellstone himself, waters her sheep, and reveals that he is the son of Isaac and Rebekah. Rachel rushes home with the news, and Laban welcomes his nephew into the family.

Jacob proves to be an excellent shepherd, and after a month Laban asks him to name his wages. Jacob wants neither livestock nor land; he loves Rachel and offers to work seven years for the right to marry her. Laban agrees, and Jacob’s love makes the long labor seem brief. At the end of the seven years, however, the wedding celebration ends with a cruel surprise. Jacob discovers that Laban has secretly given him Rachel’s older sister, Leah, as his wife.

Laban defends the deception by saying local custom forbids the younger daughter from marrying first. He offers Rachel too, but only if Jacob completes the weeklong celebration with Leah and promises another seven years of service. Jacob accepts because he still loves Rachel. The man who cheated his father and brother has now experienced the pain of being tricked himself.

Jacob loves Rachel more than Leah, but God shows compassion to Leah by giving her children. Jacob’s household grows through the births of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Dan, Naphtali, Gad, Asher, Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah. Rachel, distressed that none of the children are hers, prays to God and eventually gives birth to Joseph.

After fourteen years with Laban, Jacob asks to take his wives and children home to Canaan. Laban knows that Jacob’s presence has brought prosperity and persuades him to stay by offering new wages. Jacob requests all the speckled and spotted goats and all the black sheep, an arrangement that will make ownership easy to recognize. His sons will keep Jacob’s animals three days away while Jacob continues tending Laban’s flock. God gives Jacob special knowledge, and over the next several years his flocks increase until he possesses great wealth, servants, camels, and donkeys.

Laban and his sons become resentful. When Laban permits his sons to mistreat young Reuben and drive away Jacob’s animals, Jacob knows the relationship has broken down. God has told him to return to Canaan, and both Leah and Rachel agree to leave. They feel that their father has treated them like strangers, selling them through Jacob’s years of labor and spending all he received. Jacob waits until the busy sheep-shearing season, then secretly departs with his family, servants, and livestock.

Unknown to Jacob, Rachel steals the golden statues of Laban’s gods. She believes her father has denied his daughters what they deserve and wants to hurt him by taking what he treasures. Laban notices the loss, pursues Jacob for seven days, and accuses him of theft. Confident that no one in his party would steal such objects, Jacob allows Laban to search and rashly declares that the guilty person must die.

Laban searches one tent after another. Rachel hides the statues beneath the place where she is sitting and tells her father that she is too ill to stand. His religious customs keep him from forcing her up, and he leaves without finding them. Jacob, unaware of Rachel’s guilt, angrily demands to know what crime justifies the chase and invasive search. Laban admits that he has found nothing and has treated Jacob badly. The two men establish a boundary, promise not to attack each other, and part. Laban kisses his daughters and grandchildren before returning home.

The family now approaches Esau’s territory. Jacob cannot quietly guide his enormous household around it, so he sends a peaceful message to the brother he has not seen since stealing the blessing. The messenger returns with alarming news: Esau is coming to meet Jacob with four hundred men. Fearing an army, Jacob divides his people so that one group may escape if the other is attacked. He prays to the God of Abraham and Isaac, humbly remembering that he left home with only a staff and now has enough possessions for two camps. He asks God to keep the promise of protection and save the mothers and children from destruction.

Jacob sends an enormous gift ahead in separate groups - hundreds of goats and sheep, along with camels, cattle, and donkeys - in hopes of softening Esau’s heart. When Esau’s company arrives, Jacob places his family at a safe distance and walks out alone. He bows seven times as he approaches his warrior brother, praising Esau’s greatness, might, courage, wisdom, compassion, and mercy. At last Jacob kneels directly before the man he has wronged and leaves his fate in Esau’s hands.

Esau does not attack. He runs to Jacob, and the brothers embrace. Jacob apologizes, while Esau admits that he too has been foolish, arrogant, and rash. Esau wants to leave the past behind and live in peace. He initially refuses Jacob’s extravagant gift because he already has plenty, but Jacob urges him to accept it as a sign of reconciliation. Seeing Esau welcome him feels to Jacob like seeing the face of God.

Esau prepares to meet Jacob’s wives, children, and servants and lead them home. Bernard explains that God has healed what once seemed like an impossible relationship. Jacob’s descendants become the Israelites, while Esau’s become the Edomites. Erica recognizes that the heart of their reunion is forgiveness. Bernard hopes that she and Haley will eventually become friends as the brothers have, and reminds her that God can heal even the worst conflict. Until then, Erica can choose patience and love instead of answering one hurt with another.