Jacob and Esau were born unidentical twins, sons of an Old Testament patriarch named Jacob (who was the son of Isaac, the son of Abraham). When grown men, Esau became enraged at his brother Jacob for tricking him out of his father’s deathbed blessing, so Esau threatened to kill him.

Many comparisons can be made for believers running from a similar wrath— the devils in particular. And why is the devil full of wrath?

Because he’s convinced our souls should belong to him, so that he’s been ‘tricked’ as well. When Jesus died, the devil thought his troubles would be over and the threat of losing his property would disappear— but then Christ arose. Satan didn’t realize when he used unbelievers to kill Jesus, he was paving the way to making believers out of men through faith— and essentially opening the door of salvation for all who put their trust in Jesus.

 
But there’s more to glean from the story. Jacob was on the run from his brother. The bible says “Jacob left Beer-sheba and went toward Haran. He reached a certain place and spent the night there because the sun had set. He took out one of the stones from the place, put it there at his head, and lay down in that place,” (Genesis 28:10-11 CSB).

 
In other words, Jacob laid his head on a rock and fell asleep. Believer, when you know the devil is after you (and he is) lay your head on the Rock, and that Rock is Jesus. Pray God your whole being will come under the full authority of Jesus even when you’re sleeping. Jacob dreamed of a stairway reaching up to heaven with angels going up and down, and God speaking, (Genesis 28:15 CSB).

 
Blessed be the one who, resting on Jesus is able to hear God’s voice, even in his dreams, so with Jacob men or women can say, “Surely the LORD is in this place, and I did not know it.” (Genesis 28:16 CSB).

 
Toni M. Babcock is the author of Reflections from the Heart. Contact