Isaac and Rebecca had two sons Esau and Jacob
Isaac loved Esau more but Rebecca loved her second son Jacob more than she loved Esau
one day when Esau returned from the fields he was very very hungry and he went up to his twin brother
give me something to eat brother I'm dying of hunger
I will give you this bowl of stew in exchange for something I want from you
what is it that you want?
tell me fast I cannot wait I need to eat
I want you to give up your right to our father's inheritance and property
what well it is for you to decide
if you don't agree you can get your own food
Esau was so hungry that he couldn't think straight
he agreed to give up his blessings in exchange for a bowl of stew
this showed that Esau did not value what was his birthright
if he could think of giving up his inheritance for just a bowl of stew he was not fit to be Isaac's air and inheritor
after this Rebekah helped her favorite son Jacob to trick her blind husband so that Jacob would be his heir
but Esau soon realized what he had done and was furious at the way he felt his brother had duped him
I have been cheated, my own mother and brother cheated me
I will take revenge I will kill Jacob, he will pay for what he has done
Rebecca overheard Esau plotting to kill his brother and became very alarmed she ran to warn Jacob
Jacob Oh Jacob hurry you must leave your brother is very angry he is going to kill you you have to go away as soon as you can
what Oh No but where will I go mother where can I hide from him
I know where you can go my brother your uncle Laban lives in Haran
which is quite far from here go there and he will take care of you
early the next morning as soon as the Sun started to rise Jacob quietly left his house to go to her on
Rebecca came to the door and gave him a bag with some things for the way
Rebecca wave to Jacob tears streaming down her cheeks
Jacob traveled for several days walking during the day and sleeping by the roadside at night
one day he was feeling very tired and decided to rest for some time
this looks like a good place to sleep for a while I will continue my journey after I am rested
Jacob saw a large stone nearby on which he lay his head and fell asleep
and what a dream he had he saw a very very long stairway
which started from the ground and reached up to heaven there were angels going up and down the stairs
and there at the very top was God
and then God spoke to Jacob. Jacob, this land shall belong to you
and to your descendants take good care of it
when Jacob woke up he couldn't believe that God had actually spoken to him
my Lord has spoken to me my Lord has spoken to me I feel so blessed
this place shall be called Bethel the house of the Lord this dung shall be the altar in this house of worship
Jacob then again continued on his journey to Haran
after walking for a few days he saw some Shepherds near awhile who were waiting to water their sheep
Jacob went up to them
tell me dear brothers would you know where my uncle Laban lives I have traveled far to find him
sure we do he stays quite close by do you see that pretty lady coming this way
she is his daughter Rachel
when Jacob laid his eyes on Rachel he immediately fell in love with her
when he saw her trying to lift the heavy stone on the well so that she could water her sheep
he went forward to help her here let me do it this stone is too heavy for you to lift
oh thank you so much kind sir please call me Jacob, I am your cousin your aunt Rebecca's son
in fact, I was on my way to your house to meet uncle Laban
Rachel looked at Jacob shyly and asked him to follow her
you look really tired come our house is not far
on reaching the house Jacob greeted his uncle warmly
I am so happy to meet you uncle mother has asked me to be here with you as my brother Esau wants to kill me
oh no that is terrible don't worry you can stay here for as long as you like son
you will be safe here and you can also work for me I will pay you for it
thank you so much uncle I really appreciate what you are doing for me
I have just one desire if you would be kind enough to consider
tell me what you desire son don't be afraid you have very kindly offered to pay me for working for you
but I would be happy to work for you without any wages but why would you work for me free I don't understand
uncle instead of wages I would be very grateful if you could give me the hand of your daughter Rachel in marriage
hmm alright you work for me for seven years and then you can marry my daughter
Thank You uncle, thank you so much!
Rachel also liked Jacob but she was very disappointed to hear what her father said
Oh Jacob I don't think what father is doing is right we both want to marry each other why should we have to wait for seven years
I love you so much Rachel that I'm sure even seven years will just fly by quickly I can't wait to make you mine
and so Jacob went to work for his uncle he worked very hard and for very long hours
but he did not mind because he kept thinking of marrying Rachel after the seven years were over
Rachel my love it is now just a matter of a few days and you will finally be mine
I also can't wait to marry you My dear Jacob
finally, the big day arrived when Jacob was to marry Rachel
Laban had made arrangements for a grand wedding many people had been invited
but when Jacob saw his bride he was shocked
what is this uncle you had promised me Rachel in marriage but this is Leah
Leah was Rachel's elder sister who is not as beautiful as Rachel
well you have to understand Jacob I cannot get my younger daughter married until my elder daughter is married
but this is not fair uncle you have gone back on your word
calm down, calm down son, don't get so angry
but I cannot accept this I love Rachel and want her as my wife
well then if you love Rachel so much you can marry her also at the end of the week
really, you mean it?
you can marry Rachel but for that, you have to work for me for another seven years do you agree
Jacob was very angry but he could do nothing the thought of not having Rachel was unbearable for him
all right uncle I agree I will work for you for another seven years
no Jacob you don't have to do that father is not doing right
Rachel, I cannot imagine a life without you you are the love of my life
just like the first seven years passed even these seven years will pass
but now I will have you with me so it will not be difficult at all
a week after Jacob got married to Leah he once again got married this time to his sweetheart Rachel
though he now had two wives Rachel was the one he loved