Chapter 17—Jacob’s Flight and Exile
This chapter is based on
Genesis 28
to 31.
Threatened with death by Esau, Jacob went out from his father’s
home a fugitive, but with the father’s blessing. Isaac had renewed
to him the covenant promise and had bidden him seek a wife of his
mother’s family in Mesopotamia.
Yet it was with a deeply troubled heart that Jacob set out on his
lonely journey. With only his staff in his hand he must travel hundreds
of miles through a country inhabited by wild, roving tribes. In his re-
morse and timidity he sought to avoid men, lest he should be traced by
his angry brother. He feared that he had lost forever the blessing God
had purposed to give him, and Satan was at hand to press temptations
upon him.
The evening of the second day found him far away from his father’s
tents. He felt he was an outcast, and he knew that all his trouble had
been brought upon him by his own wrong course. Despair pressed
upon his soul, and he hardly dared to pray. But he was so lonely that
he felt the need of protection from God as never before. With weeping
he confessed his sin and entreated for some evidence that he was not
utterly forsaken. He had lost all confidence in himself, and he feared
that God had cast him off.
But God’s mercy was still extended to His erring, distrustful ser-
vant. The Lord compassionately revealed just what Jacob needed—a
Saviour. He had sinned, but he saw revealed a way by which he could
be restored to the favor of God.
Wearied, the wanderer lay down on the ground, a stone for his
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pillow. As he slept, he beheld a ladder whose base rested on the
earth while the top reached to heaven. Upon this ladder angels were
ascending and descending. Above it was the Lord of glory and from
the heavens His voice was heard: “I am the Lord God of Abraham
thy father, and the God of Isaac.” “In thee and in thy seed shall all
the families of the earth be blessed.” This promise had been given to
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