Jacob

Jacob is one of the most victorious figures in the Bible, and one of the most problematical. Clever and ambitious, he tricked his brother into selling him his birthright and deceived his father Isaac into giving him his brother’s blessing. Yet, as he went through hardships in Haran and was himself deceived and mistreated by his uncle Laban, we sense a growing maturity that comes to fruition when he is able to win over his hostile brother with gifts and genuine humility. Through all the vicissitudes in his life, we can see his genuine faith in God and his desire to guard and perpetuate the godly tradition of his forefathers Abraham and Isaac.

Father Moon has the highest regard for Jacob, whom he regards as the most successful providential figure in the Old Testament. In reconciling with his brother Esau, Jacob is the first person in biblical history to win over his enemy with love and sacrifice. In Father Moon’s view of God’s providence as a course of restoration, to turn right-side up all the things turned upside-down by the human fall, Jacob restored much: By defeating the angel he restored for the first time Adam’s defeat by the angel Lucifer, and by winning over his brother Esau he restored for the first time the failure of Cain and Abel. Jacob is a role model to Father Moon, and to anyone who understands that God entrusts to us a certain portion of responsibility—to exert ourselves to overcome adversity and restore the mistakes of the past. Therefore, his appellation “Israel,” meaning “he who strives with God” is well deserved.