After serving Laban faithfully for 20 years and being cheated by Laban throughout that time, God called Jacob to return to Canaan. God reminded Jacob of His faithfulness throughout that time and promised to be with him as he returned home.
When Laban heard that Jacob had left, he gathered up his men and pursued him with the intent to harm him. God appeared to Laban and warned him to not do any harm to Jacob.
Jacob and Laban's division is finalized and the family of Terah is now the 2 nations of the Hebrews and the Arameans. The promise from God that He would make Abraham into a great nation is now founded in the sons of Jacob.
Jacob was now free from Laban but now he has to prepare to meet Esau. This time, instead of doing things on his own, Jacob prays. Jacob had learned to rest and trust in his God.
As Jacob prepares to meet Esau he is alone in the night and wrestles with God. God gives Jacob a new identity. No longer is he the deceiver, but he is now the one for whom God fights.
Jacob finally meets Esau into Esau's open arms. Even though we see glimpses of Jacob's continued sin, we also see God's continued faithfulness and grace. Jacob's journey of sanctification continued as he waited outside of Canaan and then went to Shechem where he built an altar to the LORD.
Jacob's lack of obedience had cost him his spiritual influence over his family and he now reaps what he has sown. Dinah was taken by Shechem and Levi and Simeon devised a plan for vengeance.
After living in disobedience and not fulfilling his vows, Jacob was called by God to return to Bethel and worship Him there. In His graciousness, God reminded Jacob of His Covenant Promise and Jacob's position as the father of the new nation of Israel.
Jacob's family struggles continue as his eldest son Reuben tried to usurp Jacob's place at the head of the family by sleeping with Jacob's concubine Bilhah. Yet even in the midst of the family struggles there's hope as God's promises remain. His faithfulness is seen in the midst of Jacob's family dysfunction.
Esau's family had become a kingdom while Jacob's family were slaves in Egypt. By focusing on Esau's family, Moses reminded the Israelites that they had received God's blessing so that they would know they didn't have to fear the Edomites but could rest in the promises of God.
Jacob's Toledot begins with the hatred of Joseph's brothers toward him. Joseph had 2 dreams in which his brothers bowed down to him. In his immaturity, Joseph shared these dreams with his brothers adding to the disdain they had for him. Even in this situation, God is sovereign, and He would use this situation to further His purposes.
God's name is not mentioned in this passage and yet His actions are seen throughout. In His sovereignty, and in the brothers' actions, Joseph went to Egypt. God often uses the seemingly most improbable and unlikely ways to accomplish His purposes.
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