Jacob, on the other hand, was concerned with the family household. The Hebrew word here rendered “blameless” means “sound,” “innocent,” “complete.” Jacob, though not making a show of his strength or ability as Esau likely did, was nonetheless no weakling, for Jehovah later spoke of him as having “dynamic energy.” (Hos. 12:3) The fact is that Jacob prized the covenant promise to Abraham above everything else and devoted all he had to learning about the promise from his father. He devoted himself to taking care of the interests of this family that God had designated as heirs. He wanted to stay close to those whom God was blessing, although he did look on Esau as the one ahead of him, since Esau was the firstborn.

13. How, later, did the boys give a very strong evidence of their attitudes toward the inheritance?

¹³ Later the two boys gave stronger evidence of their attitudes. We read:

“Once Jacob was boiling up some stew, when Esau came along from the field and he was tired. So Esau said to Jacob: ‘Quick, please, give me a swallow of the red​—the red there, for I am tired!’ . . . To this Jacob said: ‘Sell me, first of all, your right as firstborn!’ And Esau continued: ‘Here I am simply going to die, and of what benefit to me is a birthright?’ And Jacob added: ‘Swear to me first of all!’ And he proceeded to swear to him and to sell his right as firstborn to Jacob. And Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew, and he went to eating and drinking. Then he got up and went his way.”​—Gen. 25:29-34.

A QUESTION OF APPRECIATION

14, 15. Was Jacob taking selfish advantage of Esau in buying the birthright, and how was Jehovah’s judgment vindicated by the transaction?

¹⁴ Was Jacob selfish, taking wrongful advantage of Esau? It might appear so. But consider: Did Esau really appreciate the wonderful things for which his birthright stood? He was not actually near death, as he said. This is shown by his getting up after eating and going his way. The Bible says, “he was tired.” Why was Esau motivated to do what he did? The account tells us: “So Esau despised the birthright.” The apostle Paul corroborated this statement when he called Esau one “not appreciating sacred things, . . . who in exchange for one meal gave away his rights as firstborn.”​—Gen. 25:34; Heb. 12:16.

¹⁵ All this proved God’s judgment right when, foreseeing the characteristics of the boys, he had said to their mother Rebekah before they were born: “The older will serve the younger.”​—Gen. 25:23; Rom. 9:12.

16. Why did Jacob have the right to receive the blessing of the firstborn from his father, but why, apparently, did he not take the initiative to ask for it?

¹⁶ Jacob possessed the right of firstborn now by two things: by the promise of God, and by right of purchase. But he did not yet have Isaac’s blessing upon the firstborn. Still Jacob evidently was acting unselfishly, not making any moves to get ahead of Esau in this. Undoubtedly he was waiting on Jehovah. Isaac was now blind, and not fully aware of the events occurring. No doubt moved by Jehovah to act, Rebekah, remembering God’s words to her before the boys’ birth, instructed Jacob so as to get the blessing for him.

17, 18. Show that Rebekah and Jacob were not dishonest, and that Jehovah’s hand was in the matter of Jacob’s getting the blessing.

¹⁷ In what followed, some Bible readers charge Rebekah and Jacob with trickery and dishonesty. But is it so? Who at this point really occupied the position of firstborn by every right? Who cared for the inheritance? Why did Esau withhold from Isaac knowledge of the fact that Jacob had bought the birthright, but instead tried to get the blessing for himself? Isaac, it is true, blessed Jacob, mistakenly thinking he was blessing Esau. But later he recognized that the action of Jacob and Rebekah was right. He saw the hand of Jehovah in the matter, again blessing Jacob, this time knowingly, with a prophecy concerning the “seed.” Then he gave Jacob instructions and sent him away for safety from his angry brother Esau. Additionally, God himself blessed Jacob with the promise that the “seed” would come through his line of descent.​—Genesis chap. 27; 28:1-4.

¹⁸ Further proving that Jacob’s action was not for selfish gain is the fact that he left home, not taking charge of the household property. And there is no evidence that he ever claimed his double portion. What was of surpassing value to him was the inheritance to come. He wanted God’s covenant to stay with the family. His appreciation of Jehovah and His promise overshadowed every other consideration.

19. (a) How did Jacob feel when he was about to meet up again with Esau? (b) What very unusual circumstance occurred before Jacob met Esau?

¹⁹ In contrast with the lack of appreciation that Esau had shown, the great regard that Jacob had for the inheritance of God was again made evident by something that took place when Jacob returned home twenty years later to visit his father. Jacob had reason to believe that Esau might harm him, and for this reason was somewhat fearful and cautious. He sent a gift to Esau ahead of his migrating household. If Esau accepted it, this would mean that there was peace between them. But before the meeting took place, a very unusual circumstance occurred. The Bible reports:

“Later during that night [Jacob] rose and took his two wives and his two maidservants and his eleven young sons and crossed over the ford of Jabbok. So he took them and brought them over the torrent valley, and he brought over what he had. Finally Jacob was left by himself. Then a man began to grapple with him until the dawn ascended. When he got to see that he had not prevailed over him, then he touched the socket of his thigh joint; and the socket of Jacob’s thigh joint got out of place during his grappling with him. After that he said: ‘Let me go, for the dawn has ascended.’ To this he said: ‘I am not going to let you go until you first bless me.’ So he said to him: ‘What is your name?’ to which he said: ‘Jacob.’ Then he said: ‘Your name will no longer be called Jacob but Israel, for you have contended with God and with men so that you at last prevailed.’ In turn Jacob inquired and said: ‘Tell me, please, your name.’ However, he said: ‘Why is it that you inquire for my name?’ With that he blessed him there. Hence Jacob called the name of the place Peniel, because, to quote him, ‘I have seen God face to face and yet my soul was delivered.’ And the sun began to flash upon him as soon as he passed by Penuel, but he was limping upon his thigh.”​—Gen. 32:22-31.

20. Why did Jacob grapple with the angel all night?

²⁰ Here is revealed the great difference in the attitudes of Jacob and Esau as to the inheritance. Whereas Esau would not suffer even a little hunger for the birthright, Jacob wrestled all night with an angel of God who had materialized as a man. This Jacob did in order to get a word of blessing from Jehovah through the angel. Doubtless Jacob knew that the angel appeared for a purpose, and he was aware that in past appearances of angels they had brought a blessing or a command in confirmation of the Abrahamic covenant. (Gen. 28:10-15; 31:11-13) He therefore was so desirous of God’s continuing with him, just as God had been with his father and grandfather, that he exerted himself in vigorous, exhausting wrestling with the angel, holding onto him. Jacob thereby demonstrated his great heart desire for God’s favor.​—Compare Genesis 28:20-22.

21. What was the angel’s reason for throwing Jacob’s thigh joint out of place?

²¹ Of course, Jacob did not actually overcome or overpower the angel of God. The incident served as a test of Jacob’s desire with all his heart to be found pleasing to God. Actually, with just one touch the angel, with superhuman power, caused Jacob’s thigh joint to be thrown out of place so that he limped thereafter. This served as a humbling factor, a protection to Jacob. It was a reminder to teach Jacob that it was through God’s undeserved kindness, and not through any strength or merit on Jacob’s part, that God had blessed and used him. Compare the apostle Paul’s experience, recorded at 2 Corinthians 12:6-10.

22. What blessings then came and will come to Jacob because of his great respect for the inheritance from God?

²² The outcome for Jacob and for Esau provides us with a very strong incentive to be faithful, to hold onto the hope of the reward. Jacob was blessed with being the progenitor of a great nation. But more importantly, it was the nation that Jehovah used in his working out of salvation for the human race. The “seed,” the Messiah, came through Jacob’s line of descent. Because of his strong faith Jacob ‘lives’ in God’s eyes, and his resurrection to the inheritance, a share in the earthly realm of God’s kingdom, is sure to him. He will doubtless be one of the “princes” that Jesus Christ will appoint as an overseer and shepherd of his people.​—Luke 20:37, 38; Ps. 45:16.

26, 27. How was Jacob an example of patience in waiting on Jehovah for the inheritance?

²⁶ Are you patient and unselfish, as was Jacob? Are you willing to serve wholeheartedly, waiting on Jehovah to bless you? Jacob did not chafe because, at the age of seventy-seven years, he was counseled by his father to leave home, taking nothing of the inheritance with him. In attitude he was the direct opposite of the prodigal son of Jesus’ illustration, who wanted to leave home and also wanted his inheritance, to spend it on his own desires. Jacob was ninety-seven years old when he started back home, not because of desire to claim an earthly inheritance, but at God’s command.​—Gen. 31:3.

[Picture on page 496]

Jacob prized the covenant promise to Abraham, but Esau sold his inheritance for one meal. Do you appreciate sacred things, as Jacob did? Do you look intently toward the inheritance of life in God’s new order and show it by what you do with your life?

And everything Jacob did he did well, with all his might. Also, he put the other person’s interests ahead of his own. Look how hard Jacob worked in the interests of Laban his relative and employer.