WE noticed in our last article how Jacob’s cunning and deceit returned upon his own head. In God’s government he was allowed to reap as he had sown. But notwithstanding his many failures he was the Lord’s, and the Lord loved him and was directing his steps.
One night God spoke to him in a dream, telling him that He was the God of Bethel. This would bring back to Jacob’s mind the place in which he saw the ladder reaching to heaven; and how God had there promised to be with him wherever he would go. After telling Jacob that He was the God of Bethel, the angel told him to arise and get out of that land and go back to the land of his kindred.
When Jacob told Rachel and Leah what God had said to him in a dream, they were quite ready to go with him to another country, for, said they, we have no portion in our father’s house; we are counted of him as strangers.
Then Jacob made his preparations and started with his wives and children and cattle and all his goods, without having said anything to his uncle Laban about his plans. This shows that there was not a happy feeling between them, and that they had not confidence in each other. It is sad to see such a state of things. It came about, no doubt, in this way: Laban took advantage of Jacob, and Jacob took advantage of Laban; thus good feeling and confidence were destroyed. Learn a lesson from this, dear children. If you will act upon the word of Jesus, “Whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them,” you will be spared the sorrow that Laban and Jacob had.
When Laban heard, on the third day, that Jacob had fled, he rose up, taking others with him, and pursued after him, no doubt intending to do him hurt. On the seventh day they overtook the fleeing company. But God, who was watching over Jacob, spoke to Laban in a dream, telling him not to speak good or evil to Jacob. When Laban came up to Jacob, he asked him why he had thus stolen away with his daughters. He told him it was in his power to hurt him, but God had appeared to him in a dream and warned him not to speak evil to him.
After further conversation, they made a covenant together and Jacob set up a stone to mark the place. Then he killed some beasts and they all ate together; and they stayed all night in the mount. Early in the morning Laban rose up and kissed his sons and daughters and blessed them, and he and his company went back to their own place. And Jacob and his company journeyed on toward Canaan. When they got into the borders of the land, some angels of God met them. Was not this wonderful? It spoke afresh of God’s gracious, watchful care over Jacob. And, dear children, this same watchful care is, today, just as truly over you who believe in Jesus as it was over Jacob 4,000 years ago. You cannot with your eyes see the angels as Jacob saw them; but God has given them a charge concerning you; He has sent them forth as ministering spirits to minister to you. It is a beautiful thought, is it not, that these unseen, heavenly beings — ministers of God’s power—are keeping watch over you? But it is a thought that God gives us from His blessed word, and we should take comfort from it. When Jacob was met on the way by this heavenly host, he should have had confidence that God was watching over him and would not allow evil to befall him. But he was still afraid of his brother Esau, and was afraid to meet him.
Again, dear children, let us learn that if we do evil we shall have sorrow as a result. We must reap as we sow. Jacob had cunningly deprived Esau of the blessing, and had had to flee for his life and remain an exile from home and friends. And now, after twenty long years of absence, although God had told him to return, and had sent his angels to him on the way, to meet him, after he entered his own native land, thus assuring him of His protection and care, still Jacob’s heart was full of fear. How different it was with his grandfather Abraham, who trusted God fully, and who knew Him as his “shield” and his “exceeding great reward!”
Would you be like Abraham or like Jacob?
“The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.” Ps. 19:7.
ML 01/12/1902