The prophets employ Yaaqov’s story as a lens to help understand their own story. In Hosea 12:1-5, the prophet pronounces a word against Yaaqov, but shifts from talking about “him” to talking about “us” as he draws a link from Yaaqov’s deceit and striving against God to Israel’s dependence on foreign powers. For the prophets, the story of Yaaqov the man is the story of Israel the people, and the prophets find wisdom for Israel’s present and future in this story of their past.