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Jacob’s Flight and Exile
115
follow a stranger, but will flee from him, for they do not know the
voice of strangers” (see
John 10:1-15
).
The church of Christ has been purchased with His blood, and
every shepherd who has the spirit of Christ will imitate His self-
denying example, constantly working for the good of his charge, and
the flock will prosper under his care. “When the Chief Shepherd
appears,” says the apostle, “you will receive the crown of glory that
does not fade away” (
1 Peter 5:4
).
Jacob, growing weary of working for Laban, proposed to return
to Canaan. He said to his father-in-law, “Send me away, that I may
go to my own place and to my country. Give me my wives and my
children for whom I have served you, and let me go; for you know
my service which I have done for you.” But Laban urged him to stay,
declaring, “I have learned by experience that the Lord has blessed
me for your sake.”
Said Jacob, “What you had before I came was little, and it has
increased to a great amount.” But as time passed, Laban became
envious of the greater prosperity of Jacob, who “became exceedingly
prosperous.” Laban’s sons shared their father’s jealousy, and their
malicious speeches came to Laban’s ears. He “‘has taken away
all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has
acquired all this wealth.’ And Jacob saw the countenance of Laban,
and indeed it was not favorable toward him as before.”
Jacob would have left his scheming relative long before except
for the fear of meeting up with Esau. Now he felt that he was in
danger from the sons of Laban, who, looking on his wealth as their
own, might try to get it by violence. He was in great perplexity and
distress, but he remembered the gracious promise at Bethel, and
he carried his case to God. In a dream his prayer was answered:
“Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be
with you.”
The flocks and herds were speedily gathered and sent forward,
and with his wives, children, and servants, Jacob crossed the Eu-
phrates River, hurrying on toward Gilead, on the borders of Canaan.
After three days, Laban set out in pursuit, overtaking the company
on the seventh day of their journey. He was hot with anger and
determined to force them to return. The fugitives were indeed in
great danger.