patriarchs and prophets-第34章

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provision　for　the　support　of　a　family。　If　they　had　not　sufficient　thrift　and
energy　to　manage　business　and　acquire　cattle　or　lands；　it　was　feared　that

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their　life　would　prove　worthless。　But　provision　was　made　to　test　those　who
had　nothing　to　pay　for　a　wife。　They　were　permitted　to　labor　for　the　father
whose　daughter　they　loved；　the　length　of　time　being　regulated　by　the　value
of　the　dowry　required。　When　the　suitor　was　faithful　in　his　services；　and
proved　in　other　respects　worthy；　he　obtained　the　daughter　as　his　wife；　and
generally　the　dowry　which　the　father　had　received　was　given　her　at　her
marriage。　In　the　case　of　both　Rachel　and　Leah；　however；　Laban　selfishly
retained　the　dowry　that　should　have　been　given　them；　they　referred　to　this
when　they　said；　just　before　the　removal　from　Mesopotamia；　〃He　hath　sold　us；
and　hath　quite　devoured　also　our　money。〃

The　ancient　custom；　though　sometimes　abused；　as　by　Laban；　was　productive　of
good　results。　When　the　suitor　was　required　to　render　service　to　secure　his
bride；　a　hasty　marriage　was　prevented；　and　there　was　opportunity　to　rest　the
depth　of　his　affections；　as　well　as　his　ability　to　provide　for　a　family。　In
our　time　many　evils　result　from　pursuing　an　opposite　course。　It　is　often　the
case　that　persons　before　marriage　have　little　opportunity　to　become
acquainted　with　each　other's　habits　and　disposition；　and；　so　far　as　everyday
life　is　concerned；　they　are　virtually　strangers　when　they　unite　their
interests　at　the　altar。　Many　find；　too　late；　that　they　are　not　adapted　to
each　other；　and　lifelong　wretchedness　is　the　result　of　their　union。　Often
the　wife　and　children　suffer　from　the　indolence　and　inefficiency　or　the
vicious　habits　of　the　husband　and　father。　If　the　character　of　the　suitor　had
been　tested　before　marriage；　according　to　the　ancient　custom；　great
unhappiness　might　have　been　prevented。

Seven　years　of　faithful　service　Jacob　gave　for　Rachel；　and　the　years　that　he
served　〃seemed　unto　him　but　a　few　days；　for　the　love　he　had　to　her。〃　But　the
selfish　and　grasping　Laban；　desiring　to　retain　so　valuable　a　helper；
practiced　a　cruel　deception　in　substituting　Leah　for　Rachel。　The　fact　that
Leah　herself　was　a　party　to　the　cheat；　caused　Jacob　to　feel　that　he　could
not　love　her。　His　indignant　rebuke　to　Laban　was　met　with　the　offer　of　Rachel
for　another　seven　years'　service。　But　the　father　insisted　that　Leah　should
not　be　discarded；　since　this　would　bring　disgrace　upon　the　family。　Jacob　was
thus　placed　in　a　most　painful　and　trying　position；　he　finally　decided　to
retain　Leah　and　marry　Rachel。　Rachel　was　ever　the　one　best　loved；　but　his
preference　for　her

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excited　envy　and　jealousy；　and　his　life　was　embittered　by　the　rivalry
between　the　sister…wives。

For　twenty　years　Jacob　remained　in　Mesopotamia；　laboring　in　the　service　of
Laban；　who；　disregarding　the　ties　of　kinship；　was　bent　upon　securing　to
himself　all　the　benefits　of　their　connection。　Fourteen　years　of　toil　he
demanded　for　his　two　daughters；　and　during　the　remaining　period；　Jacob's
wages　were　ten　times　changed。　Yet　Jacob's　service　was　diligent　and　faithful。
His　words　to　Laban　in　their　last　interview　vividly　describe　the　untiring
vigilance　which　he　had　given　to　the　interests　of　his　exacting　master：　〃This
twenty　years　have　I　been　with　thee；　thy　ewes　and　thy　she…goats　have　not　cast
their　young；　and　the　rams　of　thy　flock　have　I　not　eaten。　That　which　was　torn
of　beasts　I　brought　not　unto　thee；　I　bare　the　loss　of　it；　of　my　hand　didst
thou　require　it；　whether　stolen　by　day；　or　stolen　by　night。　Thus　I　was；　in
the　day　the　drought　consumed　me；　and　the　frost　by　night；　and　my　sleep
departed　from　mine　eyes。〃

It　was　necessary　for　the　shepherd　to　watch　his　flocks　day　and　night。　They
were　in　danger　from　robbers；　and　also　from　wild　beasts；　which　were　numerous
and　bold；　often　committing　great　havoc　in　flocks　that　were　not　faithfully
guarded。　Jacob　had　many　assistants　in　caring　for　the　extensive　flocks　of
Laban；　but　he　himself　was　held　responsible　for　them　all。　During　some
portions　of　the　year　it　was　necessary　for　him　to　be　constantly　with　the
flocks　in　person；　to　guard　them　in　the　dry　season　against　perishing　from
thirst；　and　during　the　coldest　months　from　becoming　chilled　with　the　heavy
night　frosts。　Jacob　was　the　chief　shepherd；　the　servants　in　his　employ　were
the　undershepherds。　If　any　of　the　sheep　were　missing；　the　chief　shepherd
suffered　the　loss；　and　he　called　the　servants　to　whom　he　entrusted　the　care
of　the　flock　to　a　strict　account　if　it　was　not　found　in　a　flourishing
condition。

The　shepherd's　life　of　diligence　and　care…taking；　and　his　tender　compassion
for　the　helpless　creatures　entrusted　to　his　charge；　have　been　employed　by
the　inspired　writers　to　illustrate　some　of　the　most　precious　truths　of　the
gospel。　Christ；　in　His　relation　to　His　people；　is　compared　to　a　shepherd。
After　the　Fall　He　saw　His　sheep　doomed　to　perish　in　the　dark　ways　of　sin。　To
save　these　wandering　ones　He　left　the　honors　and　glories　of　His　Father's

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house。　He　says；　〃I　will　seek　that　which　was　lost；　and　bring　again　that　which
was　driven　away；　and　will　bind　up　that　which　was　broken；　and　will　strengthen
that　which　was　sick。〃　I　will　〃save　My　flock；　and　they　shall　no　more　be　a
prey。〃　〃Neither　shall　the　beast　of　the　land　devour　them。〃　Ezekiel　34：16；　22；
28。　His　voice　is　heard　calling　them　to　His　fold；　〃a　shadow　in　the　daytime
from　the　heat；　and　for　a　place　of　refuge；　and　for　a　covert　from　storm　and
from　rain。〃　Isaiah　4：6。　His　care　for　the　flock　is　unwearied。　He　strengthens
the　weak；　relieves　the　suffering；　gathers　the　lambs　in　His　arms；　and　carries
them　in　His　bosom。　His　sheep　love　Him。　〃And　a　stranger　will　they　not　follow；
but　will　flee　from　him；　for　they　know　not　the　voice　of　strangers。〃　John
10：5。

Christ　says；　〃The　good　shepherd　giveth　his　life　for　the　sheep。　But　he　that
is　an　hireling；　and　not　the　shepherd；　whose　own　the　sheep　are　not；　seeth　the
wolf　coming；　and　leaveth　the　sheep；　and　fleeth；　and　the　wolf　catcheth　them；
and　scattereth　the　sheep。　The　hireling　fleeth；　because　he　is　an　hireling；
and　careth　not　for　the　sheep。　I　am　the　Good　Shepherd；　and　know　My　sheep；　and
am　known　of　Mine。〃　Verses　11…14。

Christ；　the　Chief　Shepherd；　has　entrusted　the　care　of　His　flock　to　His
ministers　as　undershepherds；　and　He　bids　them　have　the　same　interest　that　He
has　manifested；　and　feel　the　sacred　responsibility　of　the　charge　He　has
entrusted　to　them。　He　has　solemnly　commanded　them　to　be　faithful；　to　feed
the　flock；　to　strengthen　the　weak；　to　revive　the　fainting；　and　to　shield
them　from　devouring　wolves。

To　save　His　sheep；　Christ　laid　down　His　own　life；　and　He　points　His
shepherds　to　the　love　thus　manifested；　as　their　example。　But　〃he　that　is　an
hireling；　。　。　。　whose　own　the　sheep　are　not；〃　has　no　real　interest　in　the
flock。　He　is　laboring　merely　for　gain；　and　he　cares　only　for　himself。　He
studies　his　own　profit　instead　of　the　interest　of　his　charge；　and　in　time　of
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　hos