Brueggermann, Walter. Genesis, "Interpretation: a Biblical commen¬ tary for teaching and preaching." John Knox Press, 1982, page 268 ** Ibid, p. 266-267 blessing of riches, animals, property, and power over the other brothers. Amazingly Isaac's wife, Rebecca, gets together with the youngest son Jacob and they scheme. Jacob goes out and kills a lit¬ tle goat to serve to his Dad. Jacob puts the goat hair on his face so he'd be hairy just like Esau. He takes some of the fine goat skin and covers his hands and pretends to Isaac that he is Esau. While Esau is hunting for a wild beast to prepare a meal for his Dad, Jacob has finished the similar task. When Jacob comes to his father, Isaac who is blind, says, "Is that you, my son, Esau?" The voice of Jacob is heard and Isaac said, "Come closer, I have to touch you because although you're Esau you sound like Jacob." (Jacob's name means trickster.)*Jacob presents his face so his father touches him. "Oh I feel the hairiness of your body. Yes, this is Esau. Let me touch your hand." He touches the hand. "This is my son, this is Esau." He gave to Jacob his blessing. When Esau finally shows up he said, "Father I'm here for my blessing." "Oh my! I've already given it to Jacob." "Is there nothing further for me, Father?" Isaac said, "No, there isn't and now you must submit to your brother, Jacob. You must submit!" How would this make you feel? Angry? Esau's not only filled with anger, he's filled with hatred. He was so full of hate for his brother that Rebecca the mother said, 'Jacob we have to get you away from here. Your brother, Esau is so angry and full of anger, he may kill you." So Jacob had to remove himself and move to another land. Jacob experiences a night where he is in a wresding match during his dream. Rev. W M. MacGregor one hundred and some years ago indicates, "I'm not quite sure if its God or man who he is wrestling with." We know there is a divine incident** happening here and the question possibly is, what kind of God do we worship that would support Jacob in all this trickery? What kind of God is it that the scriptures speak about who holds a community of faith together for thousands and thousands of years. My sense is Jacob is saying, "I'm the least of your worries God ." He's talking in his prayer of feeling unblessed, alone, and in the universe under the heavens, very small. He felt so small, this guy Jacob and, he knew he caused his brother to be angry with him. So it is that we come to under- 317 Sermon Preached by Rev. Don MacPherson , 2001