How wonderfully we can trace the overruling goodness of God in caring for His poor, failing child Jacob. Surely this should strengthen our hearts and give us to realize that the Lord never changes in His love for His people. It is good for us to look back from time to time and trace the goodness of God in our lives and then to thank Him. Then we can raise our “Mizpah” like Jacob and say, “The Lord watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.” We know He will watch over us and care for us all along the way. There is a word here for any of our dear young people who are leaving home to go to school or to work. You can count on His loving care for yourself, and for your loved ones, while you are separated from them. Let us remember also that the Lord watches us, and we need to walk before Him if we are going to have His blessing.
Just a little word before we leave this touching scene. Jacob “offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread” before they parted. How happy it would make your parents and loved ones if, before you parted and left them for your path in life, they had the assurance that you were truly saved — that the one Perfect Sacrifice of Christ on Calvary had put your sins away. What an immense blessing it would be, both to yourself and to them, knowing that while you are “absent one from another” there would be a meeting day coming, and if not here on earth, it would be in the glory above.
Remembering the Lord in His Death
Then too, “they did eat bread” before they parted, and surely this would bring to our minds how the early disciples met together on the first day of the week to “break bread” (Acts 20:77And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:7)). They did this in answer to the Lord’s dying request to His own, “This do in remembrance of Me” (Luke 22:1919And he took bread, and gave thanks, and brake it, and gave unto them, saying, This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me. (Luke 22:19)). Perhaps your parents know that you are under the shelter of the precious blood of Christ, and no doubt this has made them very happy, but have you stopped there? If you have, you are missing a great deal, for the Lord Jesus who gave Himself for you has asked His own to remember Him till He comes (1 Corinthians 11:26). Can we deny Him the desire of His heart? You cannot tell what joy it will give the Lord, as well as to the hearts of your loved ones, to know that you are both sheltered by “the Sacrifice” and “eating the bread” (saved, and remembering the Lord in His death) until it is true in your own life. Do not do it just to please others — no, never — but how much happier the parting would be if you were truly seeking to please the Lord in this, as well as in all you do. So here, after this had taken place, “Laban rose up and kissed his sons and his daughters and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned to his place.” As far as we know from the Scriptures, he never saw them again, but no doubt that what took place there at Mizpah would often come back to his mind, and comfort his heart, as well as the hearts of his children.
Lo! our Saviour never slumbers,
Ever watchful is His care;
Though we cannot boast of numbers,
In His strength secure we are.
Sweet their portion,
Who our Saviour’s kindness share.
Further Meditation
1. What did Jacob do before he departed?
2. Jacob and Laban had this one last opportunity to “eat bread” together. Why does the Lord want us to remember Him often, such as every first day of the week?
3. If you’ve been thinking on the subject of remembering the Lord, you might find listening to the Audio CD The Lord’s Table, the Lord’s Supper, and the Camp by J. N. Hyland a help in getting the subject clear in your soul.