God tells Jacob to leave the land where Laban, his family, and flocks are.  Jacob leaves secretly.  Interestingly, in only thirteen years, Jacob has fathered at least 12 children, one of whom is a daughter.

Before leaving her homeland Rachel steals her father’s household "gods". Was it because she believed that the household "gods" had powers and she thought her father could find out from these "gods" where she had gone with Jacob?  Or was Rachel having difficulty turning loose completely?

Once Laban discovers the flight of Jacob and family, he pursues and catches up with them.  There is a confrontation between Jacob and Laban, resulting in a covenant agreement between the two.  In that culture, the custom was to honor the "Godfather" concept. As long as the patriarch of the family was alive, he ruled over the entire family.  

As a witness to the covenant between Jacob and Laban, a stone pillar is placed as a monument. This monument stone is a remembrance.  Memories are elusive, but a stone monument will remain.  Whenever the monument is seen, memories resurface.  Without the monument, memories fade.  Having a witness to a covenant relationship between us and God is why we are commanded to honor God's Holy Days (Passover, Pentecost, Feast of Tabernacles). These Holy Days have so faded from our memories, it's as if they never existed.  Yet we are told to honor and remember them forever.

 

Amazing example of an encounter with God the Son when Jacob wrestles with the “man”. He wrestled with God to secure a blessing. Do we wrestle with God to secure a blessing or do we wrestle with God in defiance in order to get away from His authority?

It is more than obvious that Jacob was concerned about the reaction of his brother Esau upon his return to his native land.  Jacob sent major gifts ahead of him to appease his brother.  Jacob bowed seven times to Esau when he met him face to face.  This was a customary exhibition of submission.  The interaction between Jacob and Esau concerning the gifts given was another example of the culture of the day in regard to doing business. 

It will be discovered later in the reading that even though Esau seemed amicable toward Jacob, in reality he was concealing his hatred toward Jacob.  Jacob was wise in keeping some distance between himself and Esau.

Earlier we read that after Jacob wrestled with God, his name is changed to Israel. When there is a change of name there is a change of character. When we become believers we take on His name. When we take on His name, we take on His character. That of course means we change our way of doing things, we change our character, we become a new creation, His creation.

2 Cor 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!