Jacob’s Flight and Exile
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for Rachel. The fact that Leah herself was a party to the cheat caused
Jacob to feel he could not love her. His indignant rebuke to Laban
was met with the offer of Rachel for another seven years’ service. But
the father insisted that Leah should not be discarded. Jacob was thus
placed in a most painful and trying position: he finally decided to
retain Leah and marry Rachel. Rachel was ever the one best loved, but
his life was embittered by the rivalry between the sister-wives.
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For twenty years Jacob remained in Mesopotamia in the service
of Laban, who was bent upon securing to himself all the benefits
of their connection. Fourteen years of toil he demanded for his two
daughters, and during the remaining period Jacob’s wages were ten
times changed.
Yet Jacob’s service was diligent and faithful. During some portions
of the year it was necessary for him to be constantly with the flocks
in person, 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 suffererd the loss, and he called the servants to a
strict account if the flock was not found in a flourishing condition.
We Have a Faithful Shepherd
The shepherd’s life of care-taking and compassion for the helpless
creatures illustrates some precious truths of the gospel. Christ is
compared to a shepherd. He saw His sheep doomed to perish 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 that which
was lost, and bring again that which was driven away, and will bind
up that which was broken, and will strengthen that which was sick.” I
will “save My flock, and they shall no more be a prey.” “Neither shall
the beast of the land devour them.”
Ezekiel 34:16, 22, 28
. His voice is
heard calling them to His fold, “a shadow in the daytime from the heat,
and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from storm and from rain.”
Isaiah 4:6
. He strengthens the weak, relieves the suffering, gathers
the lambs in His arms, and carries them in His bosom. His sheep love
Him. “And a stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him; for
they know not the voice of strangers.” See
John 10:1-15
.
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