In today’s reading, Isaac’s wife Rebekah conspires with Jacob to steal Esau’s blessing by fraud, igniting a deadly feud between the brothers. Isaac, now old and believing himself near death, sends Jacob away to find and take a wife among distant family. Jacob has his first vision, a dream of a ladder ascending to heaven, and angels traversing it, and the LORD speaks with Jacob for the first time. Jacob then journeys to his relatives and reaps deception for deception at the hand of his kinsman Laban, whom he would end up serving for twenty years. During this time, Jacob sires multiple sons by both of his wives, and both of their handmaids, and through trickery increases his own wealth at the expense of Laban. Ultimately Jacob flees from Laban with his wives and children, and his considerable wealth, and makes a covenant with Laban after a confrontation along the way.  

Into/Outro music: "Unexpectedly" (c) 1995 Alex Grant Used by permission