patriarchs and prophets-第33章

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16。　He　represents　those　who　lightly　value　the　redemption　purchased
for　them　by　Christ；　and　are　ready　to　sacrifice　their　heirship　to　heaven　for
the　perishable　things　of　earth。　Multitudes　live　for　the　present；　with　no
thought　or　care　for　the　future。　Like　Esau

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they　cry；　〃Let　us　eat　and　drink；　for　tomorrow　we　die。〃　1　Corinthians　15：32。
They　are　controlled　by　inclination；　and　rather　than　practice　self…denial；
they　will　forgo　the　most　valuable　considerations。　If　one　must　be
relinquished；　the　gratification　of　a　depraved　appetite　or　the　heavenly
blessings　promised　only　to　the　self…denying　and　God…fearing；　the　claims　of
appetite　prevail；　and　God　and　heaven　are　virtually　despised。　How　many；　even
of　professed　Christians；　cling　to　indulgences　that　are　injurious　to　health
and　that　benumb　the　sensibilities　of　the　soul。　When　the　duty　is　presented　of
cleansing　themselves　from　all　filthiness　of　the　flesh　and　spirit；　perfecting
holiness　in　the　fear　of　God；　they　are　offended。　They　see　that　they　cannot
retain　these　hurtful　gratifications　and　yet　secure　heaven；　and　they　conclude
that　since　the　way　to　eternal　life　is　so　strait；　they　will　no　longer　walk
therein。

Multitudes　are　selling　their　birthright　for　sensual　indulgence。　Health　is
sacrificed；　the　mental　faculties　are　enfeebled；　and　heaven　is　forfeited；　and
all　for　a　mere　temporary　pleasurean　indulgence　at　once　both　weakening　and
debasing　in　its　character。　As　Esau　awoke　to　see　the　folly　of　his　rash
exchange　when　it　was　too　late　to　recover　his　loss；　so　it　will　be　in　the　day
of　God　with　those　who　have　bartered　their　heirship　to　heaven　for　selfish
gratifications。




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　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Chapter　17

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　Jacob's　Flight　and　Exile


Threatened　with　death　by　the　wrath　of　Esau；　Jacob　went　out　from　his　father's
home　a　fugitive；　but　he　carried　with　him　the　father's　blessing；　Isaac　had
renewed　to　him　the　covenant　promise；　and　had　bidden　him；　as　its　inheritor；
to　seek　a　wife　of　his　mother's　family　in　Mesopotamia。　Yet　it　was　with　a
deeply　troubled　heart　that　Jacob　set　out　on　his　lonely　journey。　With　only
his　staff　in　his　hand　he　must　travel　hundreds　of　miles　through　a　country
inhabited　by　wild；　roving　tribes。　In　his　remorse　and　timidity　he　sought　to
avoid　men；　lest　he　should　be　traced　by　his　angry　brother。　He　feared　that　he
had　lost　forever　the　blessing　that　God　had　purposed　to　give　him；　and　Satan
was　at　hand　to　press　temptations　upon　him。

The　evening　of　the　second　day　found　him　far　away　from　his　father's　tents。　He
felt　that　he　was　an　outcast；　and　he　knew　that　all　this　trouble　had　been
brought　upon　him　by　his　own　wrong　course。　The　darkness　of　despair　pressed
upon　his　soul；　and　he　hardly　dared　to　pray。　But　he　was　so　utterly　lonely
that　he　felt　the　need　of　protection　from　God　as　he　had　never　felt　it　before。
With　weeping　and　deep　humiliation　he　confessed　his　sin；　and　entreated　for
some　evidence　that　he　was　not　utterly　forsaken。　Still　his　burdened　heart
found　no　relief。　He　had　lost　all　confidence　in　himself；　and　he　feared　that
the　God　of　his　fathers　had　cast　him　off。

But　God　did　not　forsake　Jacob。　His　mercy　was　still　extended　to　His　erring；
distrustful　servant。　The　Lord　compassionately　revealed　just　what　Jacob
neededa　Saviour。　He　had　sinned；　but　his　heart　was　filled　with　gratitude　as
he　saw　revealed　a　way　by　which　he　could　be　restored　to　the　favor　of　God。

Wearied　with　his　journey；　the　wanderer　lay　down　upon　the　ground；　with　a
stone　for　his　pillow。　As　he　slept　he　beheld　a　ladder；　bright　and　shining；
whose　base　rested　upon　the　earth；　while　the　top　reached　to　heaven。　Upon　this
ladder　angels　were　ascending　and　descending；　above　it　was　the　Lord　of　glory；
and　from

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the　heavens　His　voice　was　heard：　〃I　am　the　Lord　God　of　Abraham　thy　father；
and　the　God　of　Isaac。〃　The　land　whereon　he　lay　as　an　exile　and　fugitive　was
promised　to　him　and　to　his　posterity；　with　the　assurance；　〃In　thee　and　in
thy　seed　shall　all　the　families　of　the　earth　be　blessed。〃　This　promise　had
been　given　to　Abraham　and　to　Isaac；　and　now　it　was　renewed　to　Jacob。　Then　in
special　regard　to　his　present　loneliness　and　distress；　the　words　of　comfort
and　encouragement　were　spoken：　〃Behold；　I　am　with　thee；　and　will　keep　thee
in　all　places　whither　thou　goest；　and　will　bring　thee　again　into　this　land；
for　I　will　not　leave　thee；　until　I　have　done　that　which　I　have　spoken　to
thee　of。〃

The　Lord　knew　the　evil　influences　that　would　surround　Jacob；　and　the　perils
to　which　he　would　be　exposed。　In　mercy　He　opened　up　the　future　before　the
repentant　fugitive；　that　he　might　understand　the　divine　purpose　with
reference　to　himself；　and　be　prepared　to　resist　the　temptations　that　would
surely　come　to　him　when　alone　amid　idolaters　and　scheming　men。　There　would
be　ever　before　him　the　high　standard　at　which　he　must　aim；　and　the　knowledge
that　through　him　the　purpose　of　God　was　reaching　its　accomplishment；　would
constantly　prompt　him　to　faithfulness。

In　the　vision　the　plan　of　redemption　was　presented　to　Jacob；　not　fully；　but
in　such　parts　as　were　essential　to　him　at　that　time。　The　mystic　ladder
revealed　to　him　in　his　dream　was　the　same　to　which　Christ　referred　in　His
conversation　with　Nathanael。　Said　He；　〃Ye　shall　see　heaven　open；　and　the
angels　of　God　ascending　and　descending　upon　the　Son　of　man。〃　John　1：51。　Up
to　the　time　of　man's　rebellion　against　the　government　of　God；　there　had　been
free　communion　between　God　and　man。　But　the　sin　of　Adam　and　Eve　separated
earth　from　heaven；　so　that　man　could　not　have　communion　with　his　Maker。　Yet
the　world　was　not　left　in　solitary　hopelessness。　The　ladder　represents
Jesus；　the　appointed　medium　of　communication。　Had　He　not　with　His　own　merits
bridged　the　gulf　that　sin　had　made；　the　ministering　angels　could　have　held
no　communion　with　fallen　man。　Christ　connects　man　in　his　weakness　and
helplessness　with　the　source　of　infinite　power。

All　this　was　revealed　to　Jacob　in　his　dream。　Although　his　mind　at　once
grasped　a　part　of　the　revelation；　its　great　and　mysterious　truths　were　the
study　of　his　lifetime；　and　unfolded　to　his　understanding　more　and　more。

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Jacob　awoke　from　his　sleep　in　the　deep　stillness　of　night。　The　shining　forms
of　his　vision　had　disappeared。　Only　the　dim　outline　of　the　lonely　hills；　and
above　them　the　heavens　bright　with　stars；　now　met　his　gaze。　But　he　had　a
solemn　sense　that　God　was　with　him。　An　unseen　presence　filled　the　solitude。
〃Surely　the　Lord　is　in　this　place；〃　he　said；　〃and　I　knew　it　not。　。　。　。　This
is　none　other　but　the　house　of　God；　and　this　is　the　gate　of　heaven。〃

〃And　Jacob　rose　up　early　in　the　morning；　and　took　the　stone　that　he　had　put
for　his　pillows；　and　set　it　up　for　a　pillar；　and　poured　oil　upon　the　top　of
it。　〃In　accordance　with　the　custom　of　commemorating　important　events；　Jacob
set　up　a　memorial　of　God's　mercy；　that　whenever　he　should　pass　that　way　he
might　tarry　at　this　sacred　spot　to　worship　the　Lord。　And　he　called　the　place
Bethel；　or　the　〃house　of　God。〃　With　deep　gratitude　he　repeated　the　promise
that　God's　presence　would　be　with　him；　and　then　he　made　the　solemn　vow；　〃If
God　will　be　with　me；　and　will　keep　me　in　this　way　that　I　go；　and　will　give
me　bread　to　eat；　and　raiment　to　put　on；　so　that　I　come　again　to　my　father's
house　in　peace；　then　shall　the　Lord　be　my　God：　and　this　stone；　which　I　have
set　for　a　pillar；　shall　be　God's　house：　and　of　all　that　Thou　shalt　give　me　I
will　surely　give　the　tenth　unto　Thee。〃

Jacob　was　not　here　seeking　to　make　terms　with　God。　The　Lord　had　already
promised　him　prosperity；　and　this　vow　was　the　outflow　of　a　heart　filled　with
gratitude　for　the　assurance　of　God's　love　and　mercy。　Jacob　felt　that　God　had
claims　upon　him　which　he　must　acknowledge；　and　that　the　special　tokens　of
divine　favor　granted　him　demanded　a　return。　So　does　every　blessing　bestowed
upon　us　call　for　a　response　to　the　Author　of　all　our　mercies。　The　Christian
should　often　review　his　past　life　and　recall　with　gratitude　the　precious
deliverances　that　God　has　wrought　for　him；　supporting　him　in　trial；　opening
ways　before　him　when　all　seemed　dark　and　forbidding；　refreshing　him　when
ready　to　faint。　He　should　recognize　all　of　them　as　evidences　of　the
watchcare　of　heavenly　angels。　In　view　of　these　innumerable　blessings　he
should　often　ask；　with　subdued　and　grateful　heart；　〃What　shall　I　render　unto
the　Lord　for　all　His　benefits　toward　me？〃　Psalm　116：12。

Our　time；　our　talents；　our　property；　should　be　sacredly　devoted　to　Him　who
has　given　us　these　blessings　in　trust。　Whenever　a　special　deliverance　is
wrought　in　our　behalf；　or　new　and

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unexpected　favors　are　granted　us；　we　should　acknowledge　God's　goodness；　not
only　by　expressing　our　gratitude　in　words；　but；　like　Jacob；　by　gifts　and
offerings　to　His　cause。　As　we　are　continually　receiving　the　blessings　of
God；　so　we　are　to　be　continually　giving。

〃Of　all　that　Thou　shalt　give　me；〃　said　Jacob；　〃I　will　surely　give　the　tenth
unto　Thee。〃　Shall　we　who　enjoy　the　full　light　and　privileges　of　the　gospel
be　content　to　give　less　to　God　than　was　given　by　those　who　lived　in　the
former；　less　favored　dispensation？　Nay；　as　the　blessings　we　enjoy　are
greater；　are　not　our　obligations　correspondingly　increased？　But　how　small
the　estimate；　how　vain　the　endeavor　to　measure　with　mathematical　rules；
time；　money；　and　love；　against　a　love　so　immeasurable　and　a　gift　of　such
inconceivable　worth。　Tithes　for　Christ！　Oh；　meager　pittance；　shameful
recompense　for　that　which　cost　so　much！　From　the　cross　of　Calvary；　Christ
calls　for　an　unreserved　consecration。　All　that　we　have；　all　that　we　are；
should　be　devoted　to　God。

With　a　new　and　abiding　faith　in　the　divine　promises；　and　assured　of　the
presence　and　guardianship　of　heavenly　angels；　Jacob　pursued　his　journey　to
〃the　land　of　the　children　of　the　East。〃　Genesis　29：1；　margin。　But　how
different　his　arrival　from　that　of　Abraham's　messenger　nearly　a　hundred
years　before！　The　servant　had　come　with　a　train　of　attendants　riding　upon
camels；　and　with　rich　gifts　of　gold　and　silver；　the　son　was　a　lonely；
footsore　traveler；　with　no　possession　save　his　staff。　Like　Abraham's
servant；　Jacob　tarried　beside　a　well；　and　it　was　here　that　he　met　Rachel；
Laban's　younger　daughter。　It　was　Jacob　now　who　rendered　service；　rolling　the
stone　from　the　well　and　watering　the　flocks。　On　making　known　his　kinship；　he
was　welcomed　to　the　home　of　Laban。　Though　he　came　portionless　and
unattended；　a　few　weeks　showed　the　worth　of　his　diligence　and　skill；　and　he
was　urged　to　tarry。　It　was　arranged　that　he　should　render　Laban　seven　years'
service　for　the　hand　of　Rachel。

In　early　times　custom　required　the　bridegroom；　before　the　ratification　of　a
marriage　engagement；　to　pay　a　sum　of　money　or　its　equivalent　in　other
property；　according　to　his　circumstances；　to　the　father　of　his　wife。　This
was　regarded　as　a　safeguard　to　the　marriage　relation。　Fathers　did　not　think
it　safe　to　trust　the　happiness　of　their　daughters　to　men　who　had　not　made
provision　for　the　support　of　a　family。　If　they　had　not　sufficient　thrift　and
energy　to　mana