按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
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
193
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
194
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。
（195）
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 i