flee in poverty. He had only his staff (Genesis 32:10) and oil for wounds (Genesis 28:18). He stood lonely and afraid on the threshhold of independence. Before him was unfamiliar territory. He camped at a place called Bethel which was a bleak wasteland with huge slabs of bare rock carelessly strewned about. (I have been there myself.) In a dream Jacob sees the ladder with angels going up and down from heaven. Angeles were sent to minister to him. Perhaps for the first time Jacob really heard the voice of God, being assured of p ro t ec t ion , provision and preservation. Jacob responded with a vow to give God worship, service and his tithes. God certainly fulfilled His promises despite Jacob’s failure. His own future father-in-law deceived him in a matter of wages and wives. Envy continued to dog Jacob’s footsteps. His wives were envious of his affection. His brother-in-law begrudged him his success. His father-in-law coveted his material increase. So God leads him away. Still Jacob decides to go his own way and not the Lord’s. This is always a dangerous path to take. Through the temptation of Satan, and the yielding to the enticement by Adam and Eve, sin came into the world. They were driven out of the Garden, but God gave the blessed promise of the coming Messiah (Genesis 3:15). In our last study we saw how the devil sought to do away with Jacob since he knew that it would be through him that ultimately the Saviour would come. Fleeing from an angry brother bent on
killing became acquainted with Laban who would become his father-in-law. After being tricked and having served rigorously for 14 years Jacob fled from the area. Learning of his departure three days later Laban set out in pursuit of him with some of his men. God came to Laban by a dream and told him to be careful that he did not harm Jacob. When Laban overtook him he wanted to know, “ Why hast thou stolen away unaware, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword? Wherefore didst thou flee secretly? Thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.” No one can say that Jacob was perfect and without areas of sin in his life. Yet, humanly speaking, he was the one through whom Christ, the promised Seed, was going to come. Laban could easily have wiped out Jacob (Genesis 31:29). Jacob’s death would profit Laban by taking over the wealth of herds to say nothing of taking back his daughters and his grandchildren. Laban explains, “ But the God of your father spake to me” . God intervened to keep Jacob from any harm. Awed by such a communication from God, Laban was glad to conform. Satan’s plan was again thwarted. Laban had his faith in inanimate objects; he was a man of the world. He accused Jacob of being a deserter in leaving his herdsman’s post, of being dishonorable in taking away his daughters, of being deceitful in acquiring his flocks, and of being dishonest in stealing his goods and household gods. There was a battle of words waging. Although Page 51 him, Jacob
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