Jacob, the man who trips other people, just as his name implies, meets his match, so to speak, in Laban. Jacob works for Laban and grows very wealthy. The story of their interactions tells of deceptive practices and half-truths told by both men. They are so much alike, they can't get along and decide to separate. Jacob assembles his people and possessions, and he strikes out for the land of his birth.
Jacob is afraid that Esau harbors anger. He had cheated Esau and had gone to Laban's homeland. He had cheated Laban and had set out for Esau's homeland. So Jacob is caught between two difficult situations and fearful of two powerful men, Esau (his brother) and Laban (his father-in-law).
All of this is brought to a head at Peniel, where Jacob wrestles all night with a man, or is it with God? No matter--he comes to the realization that his struggle with himself and with his God is as significant as his struggles with Esau and Laban, perhaps even more so. Jacob is fundamentally changed by this knowledge, as symbolized in his new name--Israel, which probably means "He struggles with God," according to footnotes to the New International Version of the Bible.
My experience is consistent with this biblical truth: The understanding that comes as the result of significant struggles can be life-changing for a person.
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