Another common act that Jacob and Joseph both encounter is the act of deceiving. Jacob swindles his father with the help of his mother, Rebekah. He disguises himself as Esau to his blind, dying father in hopes of receiving the blessing of the family. He dresses in Esau’s clothes and takes a savory meal to his father. After some speculation by Isaac, he agrees that it is indeed Esau himself, and gives him the blessing. When Esau comes back from hunting, he realizes what has happened and threatens to kill Jacob (Genesis 27:15-42). Jacob takes the covenant and flees to Paddan-aram (Genesis 28:2). While Jacob reached his goal in earning the covenant, it was shameful of him to trick his father. Many years later Jacob is deceived by his own sons when they bring him Joseph’s bloody coat. They tell Jacob that a wild animal devoured Joseph, when they actually sold him to the Ishmaelites. Jacob then spent many years mourning the death of his favorite son (Genesis 31-34). Perhaps this is part of Jacob’s repayment for dishonoring his father and brother. Joseph’s brothers and Jacob are both morally wrong for their betrayal. Regardless of how their families cared for them, they met their new destinations in life and found it equally important to seek their covenants. This is honorable to religious readers because it shows the faith that they believe should be in God even when all hope is gone.
Later in the story, a new obstacle appeared to Jacob when his father wanted him to marry into his Uncle Laban’s family (Genesis 28:2). Although disturbing to today’s readers, it was common for the Israelites to marry close relatives and even have more than one wife. As Jacob reached Haran, he encountered Rachel, Laban’s younger daughter, and immediately fell in love. Jacob was respectfully accepted as a guest in their house, and at this point Jacob knew the goal his father had for him would be succeeded (Genesis 29:11-13).
The Israelites believed in what was called a bride service, which meant that the groom would work for the future father-in-law to show his dedication toward his bride and family. Laban accepted a seven year bride service to receive Rachel. The night Jacob’s bride service was over; Laban gave him Leah, his older daughter, instead of Rachel. It was not until the morning that Jacob realized he had really slept with Leah (Genesis 18-23). He went to Laban and said, “What is this you have done to me? Did I not serve with you for Rachel? Why then have you deceived me?” “Laban said, ‘This is not done in our country—giving the younger before the firstborn. Complete the week of this one, and we will give you the other also in return for serving me another seven years (Genesis 25-27, NRSV).’” Although he was upset, Jacob agreed to another seven years of service (Genesis 29:30). After twenty years, Jacob decides he wants to take his family, flocks, and Laban’s collection of idols to Canaan (Genesis 31:17). Perhaps, Jacob’s strongest encounter was with Esau when he was nearing home he sensed this and became fearful; however, Esau welcomes him with open arms, and Jacob’s family prospers in peace with his brother (Genesis 33:3-4).
Just as Jacob left his family to achieve a goal, so did his son Joseph. An Egyptian master realized that Joseph had a covenant, so he made him the overseer of his possessions because he knew that his house would then prosper. At one point his master’s wife begged him to sleep with her, but he refused. She lied to the master and said that Joseph slept with her. Joseph was immediately sent to prison (Genesis 39:2-20). At this point, Joseph’s goal was to get out of prison, and he did this by interpreting Pharaoh’s dream. Apparently Pharaoh’s dreams were one and the same; God was revealing to him a famine and the precautions he would need to take. In the first dream he saw fourteen cows in which only half of them were healthy. The unhealthy cows ate the healthy ones and were forgotten about by the people. In the second dream the same thing happened except with fourteen stalks of corn. Since no one else could decipher Pharaoh’s dream, he made Joseph the overseer of Egypt. During the seven good years, Joseph took one-fifth of the good produce and stored it (Genesis 41:25-41). So when the seven years of famine came people from all over would come to buy what was referred to as the golden grain. This led Joseph to his reunion with his brothers.
To modern readers, Jacob and Joseph’s obstacles were a sign in which there should have been lost hope and despair. But believing in the Lord were both their strategies to overcoming their obstacles. They both referred to their covenants in the departure of their family, the climax of their lives, and finally when they reunited with their families. Even those who do not believe in the Lord have the chance to prosper from Jacob and Joseph’s experience. It is important that through difficult times, the future is looked at as a new opportunity for improved alternatives.
Jacob and Joseph are similar because they both have goals, obstacles that hindered them achieving their goals, and they both used honorable and dishonorable means to reach their goals. It is ironic how similar Jacob and Joseph’s lives are. While they both received consequences of leaving their family, they used it to make themselves a better life. Once they had triumphed over that obstacle, they moved onto a new goal which seemed to bring more consequences. Most importantly in the end they both reached back and solved their first obstacle, which was their family.
Works Cited
Genesis. Course Documents.