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The Beginning of the End
substituting Leah for Rachel. The fact that Leah herself cooperated
in the cheat caused Jacob to feel that he could not love her. Angrily
he rebuked Laban, who then offered him Rachel for another seven
years’ service. But Laban insisted that Leah should not be discarded.
This placed Jacob in a most painful and trying position, but he finally
agreed; he would keep Leah and marry Rachel. Rachel was always
the one he loved best, but his life was made bitter by the rivalry
between the sister-wives.
For twenty years Jacob stayed in Mesopotamia working for La-
ban, who was determined to keep for himself all the benefits of their
connection. He demanded fourteen years of toil for his two daugh-
ters, and during the remaining period Jacob’s wages were changed
ten times.
Yet Jacob’s service was diligent and faithful. During some parts
of the year it was necessary for him to be constantly with the flocks
in the fields, to guard them in the dry season against perishing from
thirst, and during the coldest months from becoming chilled with
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 a
strict account if the flock was not flourishing.
We Have a Faithful Shepherd
The shepherd’s life of care-taking and compassion for the help-
less creatures illustrates some precious truths of the gospel. Christ is
compared to a shepherd, and He saw His sheep doomed to die in the
dark ways of sin. To save these wandering ones He left the honors
and glories of His Father’s house. He says, “I will seek what was
lost and bring back what was driven away, bind up the broken and
strengthen what was sick.” I will “save My flock, and they shall no
longer be a prey. ... Nor shall the beasts of the land devour them”
(
Ezekiel 34:16, 22, 28
). His voice is heard calling them to His fold,
“a shade in the daytime from the heat, for a place of refuge, and for
a shelter from storm and rain” (
Isaiah 4:6
). He strengthens the weak,
relieves the suffering, gathers the lambs in His arms, and carries
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them next to His heart. His sheep love Him. “They will by no means