Chapter 28

So Isaac sends Jacob to Laban, not realizing yet another manipulation.  Isaac reiterates that the promises of Abraham are being conveyed to him.  So even though that blessing was obtained by deceit, and even though Isaac meant for it to be otherwise, now that it is done, it is done, and he goes on.  Or perhaps Isaac now realizes that he was about to sin against God by blessing Esau - after all the younger ruling the older was told to Rebekah even before they were born.  In any case, Isaac does not seem to resent Jacob at this time.

Esau, in a sort of recanting of his previous actions, goes and takes a third wife, this one from his own family - a daughter of Ishmael, his grandfather's brother's daughter.  Another second cousin kind of marriage.

Jacob's ladder.  In the dream, God repeats the promises He made to Abraham and to Isaac.  There are no conditions given.  This is God's first direct appearance to Jacob.  Jacob seems to be "converted" at this point and becomes a follower of God.  But Jacob puts conditions on God.  He says that if God keeps his promise, and lets Jacob return someday to Isaac's home, that he will serve him and will give a tenth in offerings to God.  I suppose this would be burnt?  There is no priesthood at this time.  MSB says it is better to translate Jacob's "conditions" with a "since" instead of an "if", and therefore see Jacob's new commitment to God as genuine in all respects.  Jacob has here changed his ways, no longer the "cheater".  Note that it was God who approached Jacob to save him, not the other way around.  But with this note from MSB, we see that Jacob's conversion was genuine, and that he will try from here on to serve God as a righteous man.  Perhaps he will be less than 100% successful at this, as we all are, because our previous natures drag us down sometimes.  Jacob had practiced deceit his whole life.  He had been very successful doing so.  That way of thinking is not going to disappear overnight, but will take work.