Who was Jacob in the Bible? The story of Jacob is the heartbreaking narrative of a dysfunctional family. Jacob was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, who deceived Isaac into giving his birthright to him-instead of to Esau, Jacob's older brother. After receiving his brother's birthright through conspiracy and deception, Jacob feared for his life and fled to a faraway land. Despite all this, God was with Jacob. Jacob's story is an essential part of biblical...

Jacob seems to be anything but a model disciple. He's a trickster, liar, and selfishly ambitious man who fathers children with four women and leads a dysfunctional family rife with jealousy and backstabbing. But Jacob is also Israel, the namesake of the Old Testament community of God, chosen and blessed. As such, this sinner-saint, who limps along with the Lord, burdened by weakness and beset by problems, is the mirror image of all of us who follow...