Scripture tells us that from the moment of birth, Ya’akov attempted to overtake his brother. As the second to emerge from the womb, he grasped Esav’s heel—who came out first (Genesis 25:26). Because of this, he received the name “Ya’akov,” meaning supplanter (Genesis 27:36).

But here is the real question:
Did the meaning of his name shape his behavior? Or did it simply echo something already present in his character?

After losing the blessing, Esav accused his brother of stealing the birthright. Yet that accusation did not match the truth. Esav willingly sold his birthright in a fair, open agreement—no deception involved.

But years later, there was a serious problem: with his mother’s help, Ya’akov intentionally impersonated Esav to receive the blessing that, technically, was already his by right of that earlier bargain.

Later on, Ya’akov himself tasted the same bitter fruit. His uncle Lavan broke his promise: instead of giving him Rajel (Rachel) as wife, Lavan secretly gave him Leah. The same pattern arose again—just as Ya’akov deceived his father, he was deceived in return.

During the years he lived with Lavan, his uncle changed his wages ten times, manipulating him and exploiting his labor. And years later, once Ya’akov was settled in the land of Cana’an, his beloved son Yosef was sold into slavery by his own brothers. They dipped Yosef’s colorful robe in the blood of a lamb—blood that pretended to be his—and deceived their father, telling him some animal had killed his son.

This was the final harvest of a long-standing sowing of deceit.

But it wasn’t only Ya’akov who sowed such seeds. Rajel, by stealing her father’s idols and then lying about it, unknowingly placed herself under the curse Ya’akov pronounced when he said:

“Whoever has your gods—let that person not live.”
Genesis 31:32

Not long after, Rajel died on the road to Cana’an while giving birth to Binyamin. Her early death became one of the deepest wounds in Ya’akov’s life, for she was his beloved wife.

All of this shows us a sobering truth:
Life is a school we enter at birth. Through the years, we face lessons designed to form our character. If we fail a course, we repeat it until the lesson sinks in. And by the end of our days, the kind of person we become reveals what we truly learned.

For Ya’akov, this long and painful course shaped him into a whole, tested man—wise, humble, patient, and ready to become exactly what Yehovah intended: the father of the sons who would become the Twelve Tribes of Israel.

This Law Still Stands

The universe created by our Father Yehovah runs on this principle. He set these laws in place, and they never fail. What we sow, we will reap.

If we sow selfishness, we reap selfishness.
If we sow resentment or vengeance, we reap conflict.
If we sow lies, criticism, or betrayal, we eventually face each of those.

But the opposite is just as true.

A compassionate, generous, forgiving, and merciful heart will find those same blessings returning along the path of life. That is why Yehovah tells us:

“I call heaven and earth today as witnesses against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse.
Choose life, so that you and your descendants may live—loving Yehovah your God, obeying His voice, and holding fast to Him.
For He is your life and length of days…”
Deuteronomy 30:19–20

In other words:
If we treat others according to the righteous standards of Yehovah—His Commandments, His Statutes, His Decrees, His Laws, and His Ordinances—those same blessings will return to us.

As Shaul writes:

“Do not be deceived: Yehovah is not mocked.
Whatever a man sows, that he will also reap…
Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not give up.”
Galatians 6:6–10

And the wisdom of Qohelet (Ecclesiastes) adds:

“Cast your bread upon the waters,
for after many days you will find it again.
Give portions to seven, even to eight,
for you do not know what disaster may come upon the earth.”
Ecclesiastes 11:1–2

The choice has always been yours.
If you have sown the wrong seed and are now facing its harvest, there is still time to change. Sow what is right, sow what is good, and in its season you will reap blessing—if you do not give up.