Chapter 17—Jacob’s Flight and Exile
This chapter is based on
Genesis 28
to
31
.
Threatened with death by the wrath of Esau, Jacob went out from
his father’s home a fugitive; but he carried with him the father’s bless-
ing; Isaac had renewed to him the covenant promise, and had bid-
den him, as its inheritor, to 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 remorse 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 that 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 that he was an outcast, and he knew that all this trouble
had been brought upon him by his own wrong course. The darkness
of despair pressed upon his soul, and he hardly dared to pray. But he
was so utterly lonely that he felt the need of protection from God as
he had never felt it before. With weeping and deep humiliation he
confessed his sin, and entreated for some evidence that he was not
utterly forsaken. Still his burdened heart found no relief. He had lost
all confidence in himself, and he feared that the God of his fathers had
cast him off.
But God did not forsake Jacob. His mercy was still extended to
His erring, distrustful servant. The Lord compassionately revealed just
what Jacob needed—a Saviour. He had sinned, but his heart was filled
with gratitude as he saw revealed a way by which he could be restored
to the favor of God.
Wearied with his journey, the wanderer lay down upon the ground,
with a stone for his pillow. As he slept he beheld a ladder, bright
and shining, whose base rested upon the earth, while the top reached
to heaven. Upon this ladder angels were ascending and descending;
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