For the past two weeks, we have been looking at the life of Jacob, a man whose name means "one who strives." He was called that because he came out of the womb with his hand grasping his brother Esau's ankle. It was thought that he was seeking to be the first born--because the first-born received a greater portion of the inheritance.

We've already seen how Jacob stole his father's blessing, which had been intended for his brother, Esau, and is forced to flee to Haran--the home of his uncle Laban. On the way to Haran, at a place called Bethel, Jacob has a dream of a ladder which rises into the heavens. At Bethel Jacob makes a deal with God. "If God will be with me, and keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, So that I come again to my father's hou…