When Isaac realized that God had overruled his scheme to confer the God-ordained birthright of Jacob upon Esau, he “trembled very exceedingly” (Genesis 27:33). He called Jacob back and blessed him, charging him not to marry a Canaanite woman (Genesis 28:1-3). Esau was quick to blame Jacob for his trouble (Genesis 27:36). Esau is typical of sinners who irresponsibly blame someone else for their failures.

Jacob was literally between a rock and a hard place. He discovered that God was with him and working for him and had a perfect plan for his life. Jacob may have been separated from home, but he was not separated from heaven.

Jacob’s family and fortune were built by the house of Laban. Laban tried to trick Jacob and make him poor, but God overruled and made Jacob a very wealthy man. In fact, God even blessed Laban because of Jacob, and the old trickster admitted it (Genesis 30:27)! It was God’s blessing and not Jacob’s schemes that increased the flocks. God was keeping the promises He had made at Bethel (Genesis 28:13–15). When we are in difficult situations, we can trust God to care for us.