Jacob the Self-Righteous

The three Patriarchs of Israel represent three types of people. Abraham is the believer, Isaac is the fearful, and Jacob? Well, he was the sinner.

Don’t get me wrong—I love Jacob. But from the moment he was born, he was labeled a trickster, and a trickster he proved to be. He deceived his brother, fooled his father, and fleeced his uncle. If a man’s character is measured by his behavior, Jacob was arguably the most flawed of the three Patriarchs.

And yet, God blessed this sinful ma...