Jacob, the Deceiver

There's Jacob, son of Isaac,
whose twin is on the run;
his time is spent within the tent
for he's his mother's son.

Yet, Esau is the eldest,
and Isaac loves him so;
he loves to taste the game he's chased
and hunted with his bow.

But, Jacob swindled Esau — 
as brothers sometimes do;
a weakened, famished Esau sold
his birthright for some stew.

When Jacob tricked his father — 
his mother did the rest:
with hairy arms and Esau's clothes,
the younger son was blessed.

Escaping to his uncle's,
where Laban changed his life:
exchanging Rachel, Jacob's love,
for Leah as his wife.

For years thereafter Jacob
and Laban vied for flocks:
they schemed for goats and sheep with coats
with speckles, streaks and spots.

Once Jacob, son of Isaac,
the son of Abraham,
thought he could help God's covenant
by lending God a hand.

Then Jacob, the Deceiver,
met God, who changed his name:
he strove against both God and men
and Israel overcame.
Then the man said, Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome.
Genesis 32:28