patriarchs and prophets-第38部分

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peril　or　danger　he　will　flee；　and　leave　the　flock。

The　apostle　Peter　admonishes　the　undershepherds：　〃Feed　the　flock　of　God
which　is　among　you；　taking　the　oversight　thereof；　not　by　constraint；　but
willingly；　not　for　filthy　lucre；　but　of　a　ready　mind；　neither　as　being　lords
over　God's　heritage；　but　being　ensamples　to　the　flock。〃　1　Peter　5：2；　3。　Paul
says；　〃Take　heed　therefore　unto　yourselves；　and　to　all　the　flock；　over　the
which　the　Holy

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Ghost　hath　made　you　overseers；　to　feed　the　church　of　God；　which　He　hath
purchased　with　His　own　blood。　For　I　know　this；　that　after　my　departing　shall
grievous　wolves　enter　in　among　you；　not　sparing　the　flock。〃　Acts　20：28；　29。

All　who　regard　as　an　unwelcome　task　the　care　and　burdens　that　fall　to　the
lot　of　the　faithful　shepherd；　are　reproved　by　the　apostle：　〃Not　by
constraint；　but　willingly；　not　for　filthy　lucre；　but　of　a　ready　mind。〃　1
Peter　5：2。　All　such　unfaithful　servants　the　Chief　Shepherd　would　willingly
release。　The　church　of　Christ　has　been　purchased　with　His　blood；　and　every
shepherd　should　realize　that　the　sheep　under　his　care　cost　an　infinite
sacrifice。　He　should　regard　them　each　as　of　priceless　worth；　and　should　be
unwearied　in　his　efforts　to　keep　them　in　a　healthy；　flourishing　condition。
The　shepherd　who　is　imbued　with　the　spirit　of　Christ　will　imitate　His
self…denying　example；　constantly　laboring　for　the　welfare　of　his　charge；　and
the　flock　will　prosper　under　his　care。

All　will　be　called　to　render　a　strict　account　of　their　ministry。　The　Master
will　demand　of　every　shepherd；　〃Where　is　the　flock　that　was　given　thee；　thy
beautiful　flock？〃　Jeremiah　13：20。　He　that　is　found　faithful；　will　receive　a
rich　reward。　〃When　the　Chief　Shepherd　shall　appear；〃　says　the　apostle；　〃ye
shall　receive　a　crown　of　glory　that　fadeth　not　away。〃　1　Peter　5：4。

When　Jacob；　growing　weary　of　Laban's　service；　proposed　to　return　to　Canaan；
he　said　to　his　father…in…law；　〃Send　me　away；　that　I　may　go　unto　mine　own
place；　and　to　my　country。　Give　me　my　wives　and　my　children；　for　whom　I　have
served　thee；　and　let　me　go：　for　thou　knowest　my　service　which　I　have　done
thee。〃　But　Laban　urged　him　to　remain；　declaring；　〃I　have　learned　by
experience　that　the　Lord　hath　blessed　me　for　thy　sake。〃　He　saw　that　his
property　was　increasing　under　the　care　of　his　son…in…law。

Said　Jacob；　〃It　was　little　which　thou　hadst　before　I　came；　and　it　is　now
increased　unto　a　multitude。〃　But　as　time　passed　on；　Laban　became　envious　of
the　greater　prosperity　of　Jacob；　who　〃increased　exceedingly；　and　had　much
cattle；　and　maidservants；　and　menservants；　and　camels；　and　asses。〃　Laban's
sons　shared　their　father's　jealousy；　and　their　malicious　speeches　came　to
Jacob's　ears：　He　〃hath　taken　away　all　that　was　our　father's；　and　of　that
which　was　our　father's　hath　he　gotten　all　this　glory。　And

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Jacob　beheld　the　countenance　of　Laban；　and；　behold；　it　was　not　toward　him　as
before。〃

Jacob　would　have　left　his　crafty　kinsman　long　before　but　for　the　fear　of
encountering　Esau。　Now　he　felt　that　he　was　in　danger　from　the　sons　of　Laban；
who；　looking　upon　his　wealth　as　their　own；　might　endeavor　to　secure　it　by
violence。　He　was　in　great　perplexity　and　distress；　not　knowing　which　way　to
turn。　But　mindful　of　the　gracious　Bethel　promise；　he　carried　his　case　to
God；　and　sought　direction　from　Him。　In　a　dream　his　prayer　was　answered：
〃Return　unto　the　land　of　thy　fathers；　and　to　thy　kindred；　and　I　will　be　with
thee。〃

Laban's　absence　afforded　opportunity　for　departure。　The　flocks　and　herds
were　speedily　gathered　and　sent　forward；　and　with　his　wives；　children；　and
servants；　Jacob　crossed　the　Euphrates；　urging　his　way　toward　Gilead；　on　the
borders　of　Canaan。　After　three　days　Laban　learned　of　their　flight；　and　set
forth　in　pursuit；　overtaking　the　company　on　the　seventh　day　of　their
journey。　He　was　hot　with　anger；　and　bent　on　forcing　them　to　return；　which　he
doubted　not　he　could　do；　since　his　band　was　much　the　stronger。　The　fugitives
were　indeed　in　great　peril。

That　he　did　not　carry　out　his　hostile　purpose　was　due　to　the　fact　that　God
Himself　had　interposed　for　the　protection　of　His　servant。　〃It　is　in　the
power　of　my　hand　to　do　you　hurt；〃　said　Laban；　〃but　the　God　of　your　father
spake　unto　me　yesternight；　saying；　Take　thou　heed　that　thou　speak　not　to
Jacob　either　good　or　bad；〃　that　is；　he　should　not　force　him　to　return；　or
urge　him　by　flattering　inducements。

Laban　had　withheld　the　marriage　dowry　of　his　daughters　and　had　ever　treated
Jacob　with　craft　and　harshness；　but　with　characteristic　dissimulation　he　now
reproached　him　for　his　secret　departure；　which　had　given　the　father　no
opportunity　to　make　a　parting　feast　or　even　to　bid　farewell　to　his　daughters
and　their　children。

In　reply　Jacob　plainly　set　forth　Laban's　selfish　and　grasping　policy；　and
appealed　to　him　as　a　witness　to　his　own　faithfulness　and　honesty。　〃Except
the　God　of　my　father；　the　God　of　Abraham；　and　the　fear　of　Isaac；　had　been
with　me；〃　said　Jacob；　〃surely　thou　hadst　sent　me　away　now　empty。　God　hath
seen　mine　affliction；　and　the　labor　of　my　hands；　and　rebuked　thee
yesternight。〃

Laban　could　not　deny　the　facts　brought　forward；　and　he　now

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proposed　to　enter　into　a　covenant　of　peace。　Jacob　consented　to　the　proposal；
and　a　pile　of　stones　was　erected　as　a　token　of　the　compact。　To　this　pillar
Laban　gave　the　name　Mizpah；　〃watchtower；〃　saying；　〃The　Lord　watch　between　me
and　thee；　when　we　are　absent　one　from　another。〃

〃And　Laban　said　to　Jacob；　Behold　this　heap；　and　behold　this　pillar；　which　I
have　cast　betwixt　me　and　thee；　this　heap　be　witness；　and　this　pillar　be
witness；　that　I　will　not　pass　over　this　heap　to　thee；　and　that　thou　shalt
not　pass　over　this　heap　and　this　pillar　unto　me；　for　harm。　The　God　of
Abraham；　and　the　God　of　Nahor；　the　God　of　their　father；　judge　betwixt　us。
And　Jacob　sware　by　the　fear　of　his　father　Isaac。〃　To　confirm　the　treaty；　the
parties　held　a　feast。　The　night　was　spent　in　friendly　communing；　and　at　the
dawn　of　day；　Laban　and　his　company　departed。　With　this　separation　ceased　all
trace　of　connection　between　the　children　of　Abraham　and　the　dwellers　in
Mesopotamia。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　18

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　The　Night　of　Wrestling


Though　Jacob　had　left　Padan…aram　in　obedience　to　the　divine　direction；　it
was　not　without　many　misgivings　that　he　retraced　the　road　which　he　had
trodden　as　a　fugitive　twenty　years　before。　His　sin　in　the　deception　of　his
father　was　ever　before　him。　He　knew　that　his　long　exile　was　the　direct
result　of　that　sin；　and　he　pondered　over　these　things　day　and　night；　the
reproaches　of　an　accusing　conscience　making　his　journey　very　sad。　As　the
hills　of　his　native　land　appeared　before　him　in　the　distance；　the　heart　of
the　patriarch　was　deeply　moved。　All　the　past　rose　vividly　before　him。　With
the　memory　of　his　sin　came　also　the　thought　of　God's　favor　toward　him；　and
the　promises　of　divine　help　and　guidance。

As　he　drew　nearer　his　journey's　end；　the　thought　of　Esau　brought　many　a
troubled　foreboding。　After　the　flight　of　Jacob；　Esau　had　regarded　himself　as
the　sole　heir　of　their　father's　possessions。　The　news　of　Jacob's　return
would　excite　the　fear　that　he　was　coming　to　claim　the　inheritance。　Esau　was
now　able　to　do　his　brother　great　injury；　if　so　disposed；　and　he　might　be
moved　to　violence　against　him；　not　only　by　the　desire　for　revenge；　but　in
order　to　secure　undisturbed　possession　of　the　wealth　which　he　had　so　long
looked　upon　as　his　own。

Again　the　Lord　granted　Jacob　a　token　of　the　divine　care。　As　he　traveled
southward　from　Mount　Gilead；　two　hosts　of　heavenly　angels　seemed　to
encompass　him　behind　and　before；　advancing　with　his　company；　as　if　for　their
protection。　Jacob　remembered　the　vision　at　Bethel　so　long　before；　and　his
burdened　heart　grew　lighter　at　this　evidence　that　the　divine　messengers　who
had　brought　him　hope　and　courage　at　his　flight　from　Canaan　were　to　be　the
guardians　of　his　return。　And　he　said；　〃This　is　God's　host：　and　he　called　the
name　of　that　place　Mahanaim〃〃two　hosts；　or；　camps。〃

Yet　Jacob　felt　that　he　had　something　to　do　to　secure　his　own　safety。　He
therefore　dispatched　messengers　with　a　conciliatory

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greeting　to　his　brother。　He　instructed　them　as　to　the　exact　words　in　which
they　were　to　address　Esau。　It　had　been　foretold　before　the　birth　of　the　two
brothers　that　the　elder　should　serve　the　younger；　and；　lest　the　memory　of
this　should　be　a　cause　of　bitterness；　Jacob　told　the　servants　they　were　sent
to　〃my　lord　Esau；〃　when　brought　before　him；　they　were　to　refer　to　their
master　as　〃thy　servant　Jacob；〃　and　to　remove　the　fear　that　he　was　returning；
a　destitute　wanderer；　to　claim　the　paternal　inheritance；　Jacob　was　careful
to　state　in　his　message；　〃I　have　oxen；　an　asses；　flocks；　and　menservants；
and　womenservants：　and　I　have　sent　to　tell　my　lord；　that　I　may　find　grace　in
thy　sight。〃

But　the　servants　returned　with　the　tidings　that　Esau　was　approaching　with
four　hundred　men；　and　no　response　was　sent　to　the　friendly　message。　It
appeared　certain　that　he　was　coming　to　seek　revenge。　Terror　pervaded　the
camp。　〃Jacob　was　greatly　afraid　and　distressed。〃　He　could　not　go　back；　and
he　feared　to　advance。　His　company；　unarmed　and　defenseless；　were　wholly
unprepared　for　a　hostile　encounter。　He　accordingly　divided　them　into　two
bands；　so　that　if　one　should　be　attacked；　the　other　might　have　an
opportunity　to　escape。　He　sent　from　his　vast　flocks　generous　presents　to
Esau；　with　a　friendly　message。　He　did　all　in　his　power　to　atone　for　the
wrong　to　his　brother　and　to　avert　the　threatened　danger；　and　then　in
humiliation　and　repentance　he　pleaded　for　divine　protection：　Thou　〃saidst
unto　me；　Return　unto　thy　country；　and　to　thy　kindred；　and　I　will　deal　well
with　thee：　I　am　not　worthy　of　the　least　of　all　the　mercies；　and　of　all　the
truth；　which　Thou　hast　showed　unto　Thy　servant；　for　with　my　staff　I　passed
over　this　Jordan；　and　now　I　am　become　two　bands。　Deliver　me；　I　pray　Thee；
from　the　hand　of　my　brother；　from　the　hand　of　Esau：　for　I　fea