What a story of intrigue, deception and danger, as Jacob flees from his family, works for Laban many years, flees from him, and has to face meeting up with his brother once again, whom he had tricked so many years before. Yet through it all there are significant encounters with God (the ‘ladder’ dream in chapter 28, the wrestling in chapter 32) and the name change in chapters 32 & 35 point to a transforming character. If God can work with and through Jacob, how might we best ensure he can work with and through us?

The Revd. David Hildred