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34 - Commentary on The Book of Genesis · Philosophy and Faith

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Speaker 1: Chapter thirty one. Jacob was a very honest, good man,
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Speaker 1: a man of great devotion and integrity. Yet he had
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Speaker 1: more trouble and vexation than any of the patriarchs. He
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Speaker 1: left his father's house in affright, went to his uncle's
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Speaker 1: in distress, very hard usage he met with there, and
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Speaker 1: now is going back surrounded with fears. Here is numeral
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Speaker 1: one his resolution to return Verses one through sixteen, Numeral two.
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Speaker 1: His clandestine departure Verses seventeen through twenty one, Numeral three,
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Speaker 1: Laban's pursuit of him in displeasure Verses twenty two through
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Speaker 1: twenty five, Numeral four, the hot words that passed between
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Speaker 1: them Verses twenty six through forty two, Numeral five, their
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Speaker 1: amicable agreement at last, Verses forty three, et cetera. Jacob's
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Speaker 1: departure b c. Seventeen thirty nine, Verses one through sixteen.
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Speaker 1: And he heard the words of Laban's son, saying, Jacob
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Speaker 1: hath taken away all that was our fathers, and of
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Speaker 1: that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory.
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Speaker 1: And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and behold it
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Speaker 1: was not toward him as before, And the Lord said
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Speaker 1: unto Jacob, return unto the land of thy fathers and
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Speaker 1: to thy kindred, and I will be with thee. And
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Speaker 1: Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field
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Speaker 1: unto his flock, and said unto them, I see your
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Speaker 1: father's countenance, that it is not toward me as before.
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Speaker 1: But the God of my father hath been with me.
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Speaker 1: And ye know that with all my power I have
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Speaker 1: served your father. And your father hath deceived me and
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Speaker 1: changed my wages ten times. But God suffered him not
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Speaker 1: to hurt me. If he said, thus the speckled shall
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Speaker 1: be thy wages, then all the cattle bear speckled. And
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Speaker 1: if he said thus the rings straight shall be thy hire,
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Speaker 1: then bear all the cattle ringstraked. Thus God hath taken
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Speaker 1: away the cattle of your father and given them to me.
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Speaker 1: And it came to pass at the time that the
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Speaker 1: cattle conceived that I lifted up mine eyes and saw
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Speaker 1: in a dream, and behold the rams which leaped upon
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Speaker 1: the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grizzled. And the Angel
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Speaker 1: of God spake unto me in a dream, saying Jacob,
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Speaker 1: and I said, here am I, And he said, lift
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Speaker 1: up now thine eyes, and see all the rams which
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Speaker 1: leap upon the cattle, are ring straked, speckled, and grizzled.
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Speaker 1: For I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.
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Speaker 1: I am the God of Bethel. Where thou anointedst the pillar,
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Speaker 1: and where thou thou'st a vow unto me. Now arise,
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Speaker 1: Get thee out from this land and return unto the
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Speaker 1: land of thy kindred. And Rachel and Leah answered and said,
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Speaker 1: unto him, is there yet any portion or inheritance for
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Speaker 1: us in our father's house? Are we not of him strangers?
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Speaker 1: For he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also
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Speaker 1: our money. For all the riches which God hath taken
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Speaker 1: from our father, that is ours and our children's. Now,
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Speaker 1: then whatsoever God hath said unto thee do Jacob is
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Speaker 1: here taking up a resolution immediately to quit his uncle service,
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Speaker 1: to take what he had and go back to Canaan.
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Speaker 1: This resolution he took up upon a just provocation by
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Speaker 1: divine direction, and with the advice and consent of his
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Speaker 1: wives numeral one, upon a just provocation, for Laban and
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Speaker 1: his sons had become very cross and ill nature towards him,
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Speaker 1: so that he could not stay among them with safety
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Speaker 1: or satisfaction. Number one, Laban's sons showed their ill will
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Speaker 1: in what they said Verse one. It should seem they
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Speaker 1: said it in Jacob's hearing, with a design to vex him.
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Speaker 1: The last chapter began with Rachael's envying Leah. This begins
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Speaker 1: with laban sons envying Jacob observe Subscript one, how greatly
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Speaker 1: they magnify Jacob's prosperity. He has gotten all this glory.
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Speaker 1: And what was this glory that they made so much
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Speaker 1: ado about. It was a parcel of brown sheep and
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Speaker 1: speckled goats, and perhaps the fine colors made them seem
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Speaker 1: more glorious, and some camels and asses and such like trading,
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Speaker 1: And this was all this glory. Note, riches are glorious
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Speaker 1: things in the eyes of carnal people, while to all
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Speaker 1: those that are conversant with heavenly things, they have no
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Speaker 1: glory in comparison with the glory which excelleth Men's overvaluing
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Speaker 1: worldly wealth is that fundamental error which is the root
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Speaker 1: of coveteousness, envy, and all evil. Subscript too, how basely
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Speaker 1: they reflect upon Jacob's fidelity, as if what he had
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Speaker 1: he had not gotten. Honestly, Jacob has taken away all
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Speaker 1: that was our father's, not all surely what had become
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Speaker 1: of those cattle which were committed to the custody of
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Speaker 1: Laban's sons and sent three days journey Off, Chapter thirty,
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Speaker 1: Verses thirty five and thirty six. They mean all that
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Speaker 1: was committed to him. But speaking individuously, they expressed themselves
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Speaker 1: thus generally note sub point one, those that are ever
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Speaker 1: so careful to keep a good conscience cannot always be
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Speaker 1: sure of a good name. Sub point two. This is
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Speaker 1: one of the vanities and vexations which attend outward prosperity,
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Speaker 1: that it makes a man to be envied of his
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Speaker 1: neighbors Ecclesiastes, chapter four, verse four. And who can stand
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Speaker 1: before envy? Proverbs Chapter twenty seven, verse four. Whom Heaven blesses,
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Speaker 1: hell curses and all its children on earth. Number two.
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Speaker 1: Laban himself said, but his countenance was not towards Jacob
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Speaker 1: as it used to be, and Jacob could not but
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Speaker 1: take notice of it. Verse two, verse five. He was
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Speaker 1: but a churl at the best, but now he was
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Speaker 1: more churlish than formerly. Note Envy is a sin that
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Speaker 1: often appears in the countenance. Hence we read of an
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Speaker 1: evil eye Proverbs chapter twenty three, verse six. Sour looks
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Speaker 1: may do a great deal towards the ruin of peace
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Speaker 1: and love in a family, and the making of those
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Speaker 1: uneasy of whose comfort we ought to be tender. Laban's
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Speaker 1: angry countenance lost him the greatest blessing his family ever had,
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Speaker 1: and justly numeral two. By divine direction, and under the
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Speaker 1: convoy of a promise, the Lord said, unto Jacob, return
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Speaker 1: and I will be with thee verse three. Though Jacob
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Speaker 1: had met with very hard usage here, yet he would
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Speaker 1: not quit his place till God bade him. He came
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Speaker 1: thither by orders from heaven, and there he would stay
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Speaker 1: till he was ordered back. Note it is our duty
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Speaker 1: to set ourselves, and it will be our comfort to
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Speaker 1: see ourselves under God's guidance, both in our going out
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Speaker 1: and in our coming in. The direction he had from
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Speaker 1: heaven is more fully related in the account he gives
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Speaker 1: of it to his wives Verses ten through thirteen, where
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Speaker 1: he tells them of a dream he had about the
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Speaker 1: cattle and the wonderful increase of those of his color.
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Speaker 1: And how the Angel of God in that dream, For
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Speaker 1: I suppose the dream spoken of verse ten and that
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Speaker 1: verse eleven to be the same, took notice of the
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Speaker 1: workings of his fancy in his sleep and instructed him,
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Speaker 1: so that it was not by chance or by his
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Speaker 1: own policy that he obtained that great advantage, but number one,
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Speaker 1: by the providence of God, who had taken notice of
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Speaker 1: the hardships Laban had put upon him, and took this
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Speaker 1: way to recompense him. For I have seen all that
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Speaker 1: Laban doeth unto thee, and herein I have an eye
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Speaker 1: to that. Note there is more of equity in the
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Speaker 1: distributions of the divine providence than we are aware of,
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Speaker 1: and by them the injured are recompensed, really, though perhaps insensibly.
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Speaker 1: Nor was it only by the justice of providence that
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Speaker 1: Jacob was thus enriched. But number two, in performance of
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Speaker 1: the promise intimated in what is said verse thirteen, I
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Speaker 1: am the God of Bethel. This was the place where
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Speaker 1: the covenant was renewed with him. Note worldly prosperity and
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Speaker 1: success are doubly sweet and comfortable when we see them
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Speaker 1: flowing not from common providence, but from covenant love. To
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Speaker 1: perform the mercy promised when we have them from God
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Speaker 1: is the God of Bethel, from those promises of the life,
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Speaker 1: which now is that belonging to Godliness. Jacob, even when
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Speaker 1: he had this hopeful prospect of growing rich with Laban,
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Speaker 1: must think of returning. When the world begins to mile
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Speaker 1: upon us. We must remember it is not our home.
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Speaker 1: Now arise verse thirteen and return Subscript one to thy
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Speaker 1: devotions in Canaan, the solemnities of which had perhaps been
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Speaker 1: much intermitted while he was with Laban. The times of
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Speaker 1: this servitude God had winked at. But now return to
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Speaker 1: the place where thou anointest the pillar and vowest the vow.
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Speaker 1: Now that thou beginnest to grow rich, it is time
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Speaker 1: to think of an altar and sacrifices again. Subscript two
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Speaker 1: to thy comforts in Canaan. Return to the land of
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Speaker 1: thy kindred. He was here among his near kindred, But
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Speaker 1: those only he must look upon as his kindred in
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Speaker 1: the best sense, the kindred he must live and die with,
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Speaker 1: to whom pertain the covenant. Note, the heirs of Canaan
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Speaker 1: must never reckon themselves at home till they come thither. However,
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Speaker 1: they may seem to take root here Numeral three. With
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Speaker 1: the knowledge and conc of his wives, observe number one,
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Speaker 1: he sent for Rachel and Leah to him to the
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Speaker 1: field verse four, that he might confer with them more privately,
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Speaker 1: or because one would not come to the other's apartment,
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Speaker 1: and he would willingly talk with them together, or because
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Speaker 1: he had work to do in the field which he
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Speaker 1: would not leave. Note. Husbands that love their wives will
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Speaker 1: communicate their purposes and intentions to them. Where there is
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Speaker 1: a mutual affection, there will be a mutual confidence. And
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Speaker 1: the prudence of the wife should engage the heart of
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Speaker 1: her husband to trust in her. Proverbs, Chapter thirty one,
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Speaker 1: Verse eleven. Jacob told his wives subscript one, how faithfully
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Speaker 1: he had served their father. Verse six. Note if others
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Speaker 1: do not do their duty to us, yet we shall
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Speaker 1: have the comfort of having done ours to them. Subscript two,
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Speaker 1: how unfaithfully their father had dealt with him. Verse seven.
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Speaker 1: He would never keep to any bargain that he made
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Speaker 1: with him. But after the first year, still as he
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Speaker 1: saw providence favored Jacob with the color agreed on every
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Speaker 1: half year of the remaining five he changed it for
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Speaker 1: some other color. Which made it ten times, as if
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Speaker 1: he thought not only to deceive Jacob, but the divine providence,
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Speaker 1: which manifestly smiled upon him. Note those that deal honestly
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Speaker 1: are not always honestly dealt with Subscript three. How God
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Speaker 1: had owned him, notwithstanding he had protected him from Laban's
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Speaker 1: ill will. God suffered him not to hurt me. Note
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Speaker 1: those that keep close to God shall be kept safely
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Speaker 1: by him. He had also provided plentifully for him, notwithstanding
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Speaker 1: Laban's design to ruin him. God has taken away the
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Speaker 1: cattle of your father and given them to me Verse nine.
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Speaker 1: Thus the righteous God paid Jacob for his hard service
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Speaker 1: out of Laban's estate, as afterwards he paid the seed
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Speaker 1: of Jacob for their serving the Egyptians with their spoils.
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Speaker 1: Note God is not unrighteous to forget his people's work
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Speaker 1: and labor of love, though men be so Hebrews chapter six,
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Speaker 1: verse ten. Providence has ways of making those honest in
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Speaker 1: the event that are not so in their design. Not further,
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Speaker 1: the wealth of the sinner is laid up for the
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Speaker 1: just Proverbs Chapter thirteen, verse twenty two. Subscript four. He
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Speaker 1: told them of the command God had given him in
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Speaker 1: a dream. To return to his own country verse thirteen.
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Speaker 1: That they might not suspect his resolution to arise from
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Speaker 1: inconstancy or any disaffection to their country or family, but
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Speaker 1: might see it to proceed from a principle of obedience
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Speaker 1: to his God and dependence on him. Number two. His
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Speaker 1: wives cheerfully consented to his resolution. They also brought forward
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Speaker 1: their grievances, complaining that their father had been not only
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Speaker 1: unkind but unjust to them Verses fourteen through sixteen. That
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Speaker 1: he looked upon them as strangers, and was without natural
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Speaker 1: affection towards them. And whereas Jacob had looked upon the
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Speaker 1: wealth which God had transferred from Laban to him as
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Speaker 1: his wages, they looked upon it as their portions, So
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Speaker 1: that both ways God forced Laban to pay his debts,
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Speaker 1: both to his servant and to his daughters. So then
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Speaker 1: it seemed Subscript one, they were weary of their own
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Speaker 1: people and their father's house, and could easily forget them.
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Speaker 1: Note this good use we should make of the unkind
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Speaker 1: usage we meet with from the world. We should sit
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Speaker 1: the more loose to it, and be willing to leave it,
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Speaker 1: and desirous to be at home. Subscript Too, they were
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Speaker 1: willing to go along with their husband, and put themselves
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Speaker 1: with him under the divine direction. Whatsoever God hath said
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Speaker 1: unto thee, do note, those wives that are their husbands
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Speaker 1: meet helps will never be their hindrances in doing that
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Speaker 1: to which God calls them Verses saiveneventeen through twenty four.
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Speaker 1: Then Jacob rose up and set his sons and his
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Speaker 1: wives upon camels, and he carried away all his cattle
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Speaker 1: and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle
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Speaker 1: of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram for
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Speaker 1: to go to Isaac's father in the land of Canaan.
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Speaker 1: And Laban went to shear his sheep, and Rachel had
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Speaker 1: stolen the images that were her father's, and Jacob stole
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Speaker 1: away unawares to Laban the Syrian, and that he told
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Speaker 1: him not that he fled. So he fled with all
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Speaker 1: that he had, and he rose up and passed over
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Speaker 1: the river and set his face toward the Mount Gilead.
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Speaker 1: And it was told Laban on the third day that
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Speaker 1: Jacob was fled. And he took his brethren with him
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Speaker 1: and pursued after him seven days journey, and they overtook
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Speaker 1: him in the mount Gilead, and God came to Laban
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Speaker 1: the Syrian in a dream by night and said, unto him,
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Speaker 1: take heed, that thou speak not to Jacob, either good
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Speaker 1: or bad. Here is numeral one Jacob's flight from Laban.
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Speaker 1: We may suppose he had been long considering of it,
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Speaker 1: and casting about in his mind respecting it. But when
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Speaker 1: now at last God had given him positive orders to go,
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Speaker 1: he made no delay, nor was he disobedient to the
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Speaker 1: heavenly vision. The first opportunity that offered itself he laid
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Speaker 1: hold of when Laban was shearing his sheep verse nineteen,
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Speaker 1: that part of his flock, which was in the hands
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Speaker 1: of his son's three days journey off. Now Number one,
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Speaker 1: it is certain that it was lawful for Jacob to
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Speaker 1: leave his service suddenly without giving a quarter's warning. It
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Speaker 1: was not only justified by the particular instructions God gave him,
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Speaker 1: but warranted by the fundamental law of self preservation, which
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Speaker 1: directs us, when we are in danger, to shift for
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Speaker 1: our own safety, as far as we can do it
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Speaker 1: without wronging our consciences. Number two, it was his prudence
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Speaker 1: to steal away unawares to Laban. Lest if Laban had
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Speaker 1: known he should have hindered him or plundered him. Number three,
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Speaker 1: it was honestly done to take no more than his
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Speaker 1: own with him, the cattle of his getting Verse eighteen.
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Speaker 1: He took what providence gave him, and was content with that,
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Speaker 1: and would not take the repair of his damages into
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Speaker 1: his own hands. Yet Rachel was not so honest as
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Speaker 1: her husband. She stole her father's images verse nineteen and
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Speaker 1: carried them away with her. The Hebrew calls them taraphim.
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Speaker 1: Some think they were only little representations of the ancestors
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Speaker 1: of the family in statues or pictures, which Rachel had
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Speaker 1: a particular fondness for and was desirous to have with
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Speaker 1: her now that she was going into another country. It
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Speaker 1: should rather seem that they were images for a religious use.
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Speaker 1: Pinates household gods either worshiped or consulted as oracles, and
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Speaker 1: we are willing to hope with Bishop Patrick that she
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Speaker 1: took them away not out of coveteousness of the rich
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Speaker 1: metal they were made of, much less for her own use,
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Speaker 1: or out of any superstitious fear lest Laban, by consulting
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Speaker 1: his tariff him, might know which way they had gone. Jacob,
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Speaker 1: no doubt dwelt with his wives as a man of knowledge,
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Speaker 1: and they were better taught than so. But out of
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Speaker 1: a design hereby to convince her father of the folly
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Speaker 1: of his regard to those as gods which could not
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Speaker 1: secure themselves. Isaiah, Chapter forty six, Verses one and two,
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Speaker 1: Numeral two. Laban's pursuit of Jacob tidings were brought him
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Speaker 1: on the third day that Jacob had fled. He immediately
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Speaker 1: raises the whole clan, takes his brethren, that is, the
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Speaker 1: relations of his family that were all in his interests,
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Speaker 1: and pursues Jacob as pharaoh and his Egyptians afterwards pursued
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Speaker 1: the seat of Jacob to bring him back into bondage again,
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Speaker 1: or with design to strip him of what he had
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Speaker 1: day's journey he marched in pursuit of him Verse twenty three.
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Speaker 1: He would not have taken half the pains to have
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Speaker 1: visited his best friends. But the truth is, bad men
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Speaker 1: will do more to serve their sinful passions than good
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Speaker 1: men will to serve their just affections, and are more
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Speaker 1: vehement in their anger than in their love. Well, at
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Speaker 1: length Laban overtook him, and the very night before he
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Speaker 1: came up with him. God interposed in the quarrel, rebuked
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Speaker 1: Laban and sheltered Jacob, charging Laban not to speak unto him,
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Speaker 1: either good or bad verse twenty four, that is to say,
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Speaker 1: nothing against his going on with his journey, for that
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Speaker 1: it proceeded from the Lord. The same Hebreism we have
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Speaker 1: Chapter twenty four, verse fifty. Laban, during his seven days march,
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Speaker 1: had been full of rage against Jacob, and was now
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Speaker 1: full of hopes that his lust should be satisfied upon him.
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Speaker 1: Exodus chapter fifteen, verse nine. But God comes to him
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Speaker 1: him and with one word ties his hands, though he
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Speaker 1: does not turn his heart Note number one. In a
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Speaker 1: dream and in slumberings upon the bed, God has ways
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Speaker 1: of opening the ears of men and sealing their instruction
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Speaker 1: Job chapter thirty three, Verses fifteen and sixteen. Thus he
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Speaker 1: admonishes men by their consciences in secret whispers, which the
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Speaker 1: man of wisdom will hear in heed. Number two. The
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Speaker 1: safety of good men is very much owing to the
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Speaker 1: hold God has of the consciences of bad men and
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Speaker 1: the access he has to them. Number three. God sometimes
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Speaker 1: appears wonderfully for the deliverance of his people when they
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Speaker 1: are upon the very brink of ruin. The Jews were
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Speaker 1: saved from Hayman's plot when the king's decree drew near
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Speaker 1: to be put in execution. Esther Chapter nine, verse one.
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Speaker 1: Laban's pursuit after Jacob b. C. Seventeen thirty nine, Verses
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Speaker 1: twenty five through thirty five. Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now
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Speaker 1: Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount, and Laban
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Speaker 1: with his brethren pitched in the Mount of Gilead. And
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Speaker 1: Laban said to Jacob, what hast thou done? That Thou
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Speaker 1: hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my
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Speaker 1: daughters as captives taken with the sword. Wherefore didst thou
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Speaker 1: flee away secretly and steal away from me? And didst
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Speaker 1: not tell me that I might have sent thee away
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Speaker 1: with mirth and with songs, with tabrit and with harp,
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Speaker 1: and hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and
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Speaker 1: my daughters. Thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.
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Speaker 1: It is in the power of my hand to do
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Speaker 1: you hurt. But the God of your father spake unto
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Speaker 1: me yesternight, saying, take thou heed, that thou speak not
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Speaker 1: to Jacob either good or bad. And now though thou
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Speaker 1: wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longest after thy
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Speaker 1: father's house. Yeah, where hast thou stolen my gods? And
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Speaker 1: Jacob answered and said to Laban because I was afraid,
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Speaker 1: for I said, peradventure, thououldst take by force thy daughters
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Speaker 1: from me. With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him
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Speaker 1: not live before our brethren. Discern thou what is thine
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Speaker 1: with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew
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Speaker 1: not that Rachel had stolen them. And Laban went into
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Speaker 1: Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two
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Speaker 1: maid servants tents, but he found them not. Then went
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Speaker 1: he out of Lea's tent and entered into Rachel's tent.
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Speaker 1: Now Rachel had taken the images and put them in
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Speaker 1: the camel's furniture and sat upon them. And Laban searched
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Speaker 1: all the tent, but found them not. And she said
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Speaker 1: to her father, let it not displease my lord that
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Speaker 1: I cannot rise up before THEE, for the custom of
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Speaker 1: women is upon me. And he searched but found not
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Speaker 1: the images we have here. The reasoning not to say
21:53
Speaker 1: the rallying that took place between Laban and Jacob at
21:56
Speaker 1: their meeting in that mountain, which was afterwards called Gilea.
22:00
Speaker 1: Verse twenty five. Here is numeral one the high charge
22:04
Speaker 1: which lay been exhibited against him. He accuses him number one,
22:09
Speaker 1: as a renegade that had unjustly deserted his service, to
22:12
Speaker 1: represent Jacob as a criminal. He will have it thought
22:15
Speaker 1: that he intended kindness to his daughters verse twenty seven
22:19
Speaker 1: and twenty eight, that he would have dismissed them with
22:22
Speaker 1: all the marks of love and honor that could be.
22:25
Speaker 1: That he would have made a solemn business of it,
22:27
Speaker 1: would have kissed his little grandchildren, and that was all
22:30
Speaker 1: he would have given them, and according to the foolish
22:33
Speaker 1: custom of the country, would have sent them away with
22:36
Speaker 1: mirth and with songs, with tabret and with harp, not
22:40
Speaker 1: as Rebecca was sent away out of the same family
22:42
Speaker 1: above one hundred twenty years before, with prayers and blessings
22:46
Speaker 1: Chapter twenty four, verse sixty, but with sport and merriment,
22:51
Speaker 1: which was a sign that religion had very much decayed
22:54
Speaker 1: in the family, and that they had lost their seriousness. However,
22:58
Speaker 1: he pretends they would have been treated with respect at parting. Note,
23:02
Speaker 1: it is common for bad men, when they are disappointed
23:05
Speaker 1: in their malicious projects, to pretend that they design nothing
23:08
Speaker 1: but what was kind and fair. When they cannot do
23:11
Speaker 1: the mischief they intended, they are loath it should be
23:14
Speaker 1: thought that they ever did intend it. When they have
23:16
Speaker 1: not done what they should have done, they come off
23:19
Speaker 1: with this excuse that they would have done it. Men
23:22
Speaker 1: may thus be deceived, but God cannot. He likewise suggests
23:27
Speaker 1: that Jacob had some bad design in stealing away, thus
23:30
Speaker 1: verse twenty six, that he took his wives away as captives.
23:34
Speaker 1: Note those that mean ill themselves are most apt to
23:39
Speaker 1: put the worst construction upon what others do innocently. The
23:43
Speaker 1: insinuating and the aggravating of faults are the artifices of
23:47
Speaker 1: a designing malice, and those must be represented, though never
23:51
Speaker 1: so unjustly as intending ill against whom ill is intended
23:57
Speaker 1: upon the whole matter. Subscript one. He both of his
24:00
Speaker 1: own power Verse twenty nine. It is in the power
24:03
Speaker 1: of my hand to do you hurt. He supposes that
24:06
Speaker 1: he had both right on his side a good action,
24:09
Speaker 1: as we say against Jacob, and strength on his side,
24:12
Speaker 1: either to avenge the wrong, or recover the right. Note
24:16
Speaker 1: bad people commonly value themselves much upon their power to
24:20
Speaker 1: do hurt, whereas a power to do good is much
24:24
Speaker 1: more valuable. Those that will do nothing to make themselves
24:28
Speaker 1: amiable love to be thought formidable. And yet subscript too,
24:34
Speaker 1: he owns himself under the check and restraint of God's power.
24:38
Speaker 1: And though it redounds much to the credit and comfort
24:41
Speaker 1: of Jacob, he cannot avoid telling him the caution God
24:44
Speaker 1: had given him the night before in a dream. Speak
24:48
Speaker 1: not to Jacob good nor bad. Note as God has
24:52
Speaker 1: all wicked instruments in a chain, so when he pleases,
24:56
Speaker 1: he can make them sensible of it and force them
24:59
Speaker 1: to own it to his praise as protector of the good,
25:02
Speaker 1: as Balam did. Or we may look upon this as
25:05
Speaker 1: an instance of some conscientious regard felt by Laban for
25:08
Speaker 1: God's express prohibitions. As bad as he was, he durst
25:13
Speaker 1: not injure one whom he saw to be the particular
25:16
Speaker 1: care of Heaven. Note A great deal of mischief would
25:20
Speaker 1: be prevented if men would but attend to the caveats
25:23
Speaker 1: which their own consciences give them in slumberings upon the bed,
25:27
Speaker 1: and regard the voice of God in them number two
25:31
Speaker 1: as a thief verse thirty Rather than own that he
25:35
Speaker 1: had given him any color of provocation to depart, he
25:39
Speaker 1: is willing to impute it to a foolish fondness for
25:41
Speaker 1: his father's house, which made him that he would needs
25:45
Speaker 1: be gone, But then says he, wherefore hast thou stolen
25:49
Speaker 1: my God's foolish man to call those his gods that
25:53
Speaker 1: could be stolen? Could he expect protection from those that
25:57
Speaker 1: could neither resist nor discover their invasion? Happy are those
26:02
Speaker 1: who have the Lord for their God, for they have
26:04
Speaker 1: a God that they cannot be robbed of. Enemies may
26:08
Speaker 1: steal our goods, but not our God. Here Laban lays
26:12
Speaker 1: to Jacob's charge things that he knew, not the common
26:15
Speaker 1: distress of oppressed innocency Numeral two Jacob's apology for himself,
26:22
Speaker 1: those that commit their cause to God yet are not
26:25
Speaker 1: forbidden to plead it themselves with meekness and fear. Number one.
26:30
Speaker 1: As to the charge of stealing away his own wives,
26:32
Speaker 1: he clears himself by giving the true reason why he
26:35
Speaker 1: went away unknown to Laban Verse thirty one. He feared
26:40
Speaker 1: lest Laban would by force take away his daughters and
26:43
Speaker 1: so oblige him, by the bond of his affection to
26:45
Speaker 1: his wives, to continue in his service. Note those that
26:50
Speaker 1: are unjust in the least, it may be suspected, will
26:54
Speaker 1: be unjust also in much Luke, Chapter sixteen, verse ten.
26:59
Speaker 1: If Laban deceived Jacob in his wages, it is likely
27:03
Speaker 1: he will make no conscience of robbing him of his
27:05
Speaker 1: wives and putting those asunder whom God has joined together.
27:10
Speaker 1: What may not be feared from men that have no
27:12
Speaker 1: principle of honesty. Number two, As to the charge of
27:17
Speaker 1: stealing Laban's gods, he pleads not guilty verse thirty two.
27:21
Speaker 1: He not only did not take them himself, he was
27:25
Speaker 1: not so fond of them, but he did not know
27:27
Speaker 1: that they were taken. Yet, perhaps he spoke too hastily
27:31
Speaker 1: and inconsiderately when he said, whoever had taken them, let
27:35
Speaker 1: him not live upon this He might reflect with some
27:39
Speaker 1: bitterness when not long after Rachel, who had taken them,
27:42
Speaker 1: died suddenly in travail. How just soever we think ourselves
27:47
Speaker 1: to be, it is best to forbear imprecations, lest they
27:51
Speaker 1: fall heavier than we imagine. Numeral three. The diligent search
27:56
Speaker 1: Laban made for his gods verse thirty three through thirty five,
28:00
Speaker 1: partly out of hatred to Jacob, whom he would gladly
28:03
Speaker 1: have an occasion to quarrel with, partly out of love
28:06
Speaker 1: to his idols, which he was loath to part with.
28:09
Speaker 1: We do not find that he searched Jacob's flocks for
28:12
Speaker 1: stolen cattle, but he searched his furniture for stolen gods.
28:17
Speaker 1: He was of Micah's mind. You have taken away my gods,
28:20
Speaker 1: and what have I more? Judges Chapter eighteen, verse twenty four.
28:25
Speaker 1: Were the worshippers of false gods so set upon their idols?
28:29
Speaker 1: Did they thus walk in the name of their gods?
28:33
Speaker 1: And shall not we be as solicious in our inquires
28:36
Speaker 1: after the true God when he has justly departed from us?
28:40
Speaker 1: How carefully should we ask? Where is God my Maker?
28:44
Speaker 1: Oh that I knew where I might find him? Job
28:47
Speaker 1: Chapter twenty three, verse three. Laban, after all his searches,
28:51
Speaker 1: missed of finding his gods, and was baffled in his
28:55
Speaker 1: inquiry with a sham. But our God will not only
28:58
Speaker 1: be found of those that seek him, but they shall
29:00
Speaker 1: find him their bountiful rewarder Verses thirty six, through forty two,
29:07
Speaker 1: and Jacob was wroth and chowed with Laban. And Jacob
29:10
Speaker 1: answered and said to Laban, what is my trespass? What
29:13
Speaker 1: is my sin that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?
29:17
Speaker 1: Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff? What hast thou
29:20
Speaker 1: found of all thy household stuff? Set it here before
29:23
Speaker 1: my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt
29:26
Speaker 1: us both this. Twenty years have I been with thee.
29:29
Speaker 1: Thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young,
29:32
Speaker 1: and the rams of thy flock? Have I not eaten
29:35
Speaker 1: that which was torn of beasts? I brought not unto thee.
29:38
Speaker 1: I bear the loss of it of my hand? Didst
29:41
Speaker 1: thou require it? Whether stolen by day or stolen by night?
29:45
Speaker 1: Thus I was in the day the drought consumed me,
29:48
Speaker 1: and the frost by night, and my sleep departed from
29:51
Speaker 1: mine eyes. Thus have I been twenty years in thy house.
29:56
Speaker 1: I serve thee fourteen years for thy two daughters and
30:00
Speaker 1: for thy cattle. And thou hast changed my wages ten times.
30:05
Speaker 1: Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham,
30:07
Speaker 1: and the fear of Isaac had been with me surely
30:10
Speaker 1: thou hast sent me away now empty. God hath seen
30:14
Speaker 1: mine affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked
30:17
Speaker 1: thee yesternight. See in these verses Numeral one, the power
30:22
Speaker 1: of provocation. Jacob's natural temper was mild and calm, and
30:27
Speaker 1: grace had improved it. He was a smooth man and
30:30
Speaker 1: a plain man. And yet Laban's unreasonable carriage towards him
30:34
Speaker 1: put him into a heat that transported him into a
30:37
Speaker 1: heat that transported him into some vehemence Verses thirty six
30:42
Speaker 1: and thirty seven. His chiding with Laban, though it may
30:45
Speaker 1: admit of some excuse, was not justifiable, nor is it
30:49
Speaker 1: written for our imitation. Grievous words stir up anger, and
30:53
Speaker 1: commonly do but make bad worse. It is a very
30:56
Speaker 1: great affront to one that bears an honest mind, to
30:58
Speaker 1: be charged with discons honesty. And yet even this we
31:02
Speaker 1: must learn to bear with patience, committing our cause to God.
31:07
Speaker 1: Numeral two. The comfort of a good conscience. This was
31:11
Speaker 1: Jacob's rejoicing that, when Laban accused him, his own conscience
31:14
Speaker 1: acquitted him and witnessed for him that he had been
31:16
Speaker 1: in all things willing and careful to live honestly Hebrews,
31:20
Speaker 1: Chapter thirteen, verse eighteen. Note those that in any employment
31:25
Speaker 1: have dealt faithfully, if they cannot obtain the credit of
31:27
Speaker 1: it with men, yet shall have the comfort of it
31:30
Speaker 1: in their own bosoms Numeral three. The character of a
31:34
Speaker 1: good servant, and particularly of a faithful shepherd. Jacob had
31:38
Speaker 1: approved himself such a one Verses thirty eight through forty.
31:42
Speaker 1: Number one, he was very careful, so that, through his
31:45
Speaker 1: oversight or neglect, the youths did not cast their young.
31:50
Speaker 1: His piety also procured a blessing upon his master's effects
31:53
Speaker 1: that were under his hands. Note Servants should take no
31:57
Speaker 1: less care of what they are entrusted with for their
31:59
Speaker 1: masters than if they were entitled to it as their own.
32:03
Speaker 1: Number two. He was very honest and took none of
32:06
Speaker 1: that for his own eating, which was not allowed him.
32:09
Speaker 1: He contented himself with mean fare, and coveted not to
32:13
Speaker 1: feast upon the rams of the flock. Note servants must
32:17
Speaker 1: not be dainty in their food, nor covet what is
32:20
Speaker 1: forbidden them. But in that and other instances show all
32:24
Speaker 1: good fidelity. Number three, he was very laborious Verse forty.
32:30
Speaker 1: He stuck to his business all weathers, and bore both
32:34
Speaker 1: heat and cold with invincible patience. Note, men of business
32:38
Speaker 1: that intend to make something of it must resolve to
32:42
Speaker 1: endure hardness. Jacob is here an example to ministers. They
32:46
Speaker 1: also are shepherds, of whom it is required that they
32:48
Speaker 1: be true to their trust and willing to take pains
32:53
Speaker 1: Numeral four. The character of a hard master Laban had
32:57
Speaker 1: been such a one to Jacob, though, those are bad
33:00
Speaker 1: masters number one, who exact from their servants that which
33:04
Speaker 1: is unjust, by obliging them to make good that which
33:08
Speaker 1: is not damaged by any default of theirs, this Laban
33:11
Speaker 1: did verse thirty nine. Nay, if there has been a neglect,
33:16
Speaker 1: yet it is unjust to punish above the proportion of
33:19
Speaker 1: the faults, that may be an inconsiderable damage to the master,
33:23
Speaker 1: which would go near to ruin a poor servant. Number two,
33:27
Speaker 1: Those also are bad masters, who denied to their servants
33:30
Speaker 1: that which is just and equal. This Laban did, verse
33:34
Speaker 1: forty one. It was unreasonable for him to make Jacob
33:38
Speaker 1: serve for his daughters, when he had, in reversion so
33:41
Speaker 1: great an his state secured to him by the promise
33:44
Speaker 1: of God himself. As it was also to give him
33:47
Speaker 1: his daughters without portions, when it was in the power
33:50
Speaker 1: of his hands to do well for them. Thus he
33:53
Speaker 1: robbed the poor because he was poor, as he did
33:56
Speaker 1: also by changing his wages Numeral five The care of
34:01
Speaker 1: Providence for the protection of injured innocence, verse forty two.
34:06
Speaker 1: God took cognizance of the wrong done to Jacob and
34:09
Speaker 1: repaid him whom Laban would otherwise have sent empty away,
34:14
Speaker 1: and rebuked Laban, who otherwise would have swallowed him up. Note.
34:19
Speaker 1: God is the patron of the oppressed, and those who
34:22
Speaker 1: are wronged and yet not ruined, cast down and yet
34:25
Speaker 1: not destroyed, must acknowledge him in their preservation and give
34:29
Speaker 1: him the glory of it. Observe Number one. Jacob speaks
34:34
Speaker 1: of God as the God of his father, intimating that
34:37
Speaker 1: he thought himself unworthy to be thus regarded, but was
34:41
Speaker 1: beloved for the father's sake. Number two. He calls him
34:45
Speaker 1: the God of Abraham and the fear of Isaac, for
34:49
Speaker 1: Abraham was dead and had gone to that world where
34:52
Speaker 1: perfect love casts out fear, but Isaac was yet alive,
34:56
Speaker 1: sanctifying the Lord in his heart as his fear and
35:00
Speaker 1: and his dread. Jacob's covenant with Laban b. S. Seventeen
35:05
Speaker 1: thirty nine, Verses forty three through fifty five. And Laban
35:10
Speaker 1: answered and said, unto Jacob, these daughters are my daughters,
35:13
Speaker 1: and these children are my children. And these cattle are
35:16
Speaker 1: my cattle. And all that thou seest is mine. And
35:20
Speaker 1: what can I do this day unto these my daughters
35:23
Speaker 1: or unto their children which they have borne. Now therefore,
35:27
Speaker 1: come thou, let us make a covenant, ay and thou
35:30
Speaker 1: and let it be for a witness between me and THEE.
35:34
Speaker 1: And Jacob took a stone and set it up for
35:36
Speaker 1: a pillar. And Jacob said, unto his brethren, gather stones.
35:39
Speaker 1: And they took stones and made a heap, and they
35:42
Speaker 1: did eat there upon the heap. And Laban called it
35:45
Speaker 1: jagar Sahaduthah. But Jacob called it Ghalid. And Laban said,
35:50
Speaker 1: this heap is a witness between me and THEE. This day.
35:54
Speaker 1: Therefore was the name of it called Ghalid and Mizpah,
35:57
Speaker 1: For he said, the Lord watched between me and THEE
36:00
Speaker 1: when we are absent one from another. If thou shalt
36:03
Speaker 1: afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives
36:07
Speaker 1: beside my daughters. No man is with us. See God
36:10
Speaker 1: is witness betwixt me and thee. And Laban said to Jacob,
36:14
Speaker 1: behold this heap, and behold this pillar which I have
36:17
Speaker 1: cast betwixt me and thee. This heap be witness, and
36:22
Speaker 1: this pillar be witness. That I will not pass over
36:25
Speaker 1: this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass
36:28
Speaker 1: over this heap and this pillar unto me for harm.
36:32
Speaker 1: The God of Abraham and the God of nahor the
36:34
Speaker 1: God of their father judge betwixt us, and Jacob swear
36:38
Speaker 1: by the fear of his father Isaac. Then Jacob offered
36:41
Speaker 1: sacrifice upon the mount and called his brethren to eat bread.
36:45
Speaker 1: And they did eat bread, and tarried all night in
36:47
Speaker 1: the mount, And early in the morning Laban rose up
36:50
Speaker 1: and kissed his sons and his daughters and blessed them.
36:53
Speaker 1: And Laban departed and returned unto his place. We have
36:57
Speaker 1: here the compromising of the matter between Laban and Jacob.
37:00
Speaker 1: Laban had nothing to say in reply to Jacob's remonstrance.
37:04
Speaker 1: He could neither justify himself nor condemn Jacob, but was
37:08
Speaker 1: convicted by his own conscience of the wrong he had done. Him,
37:11
Speaker 1: and therefore desires to hear no more of the matter.
37:15
Speaker 1: He is not willing to own himself in a fault,
37:17
Speaker 1: nor to ask Jacob's forgiveness and make him satisfaction, as
37:21
Speaker 1: he ought to have done. But Numeral one he turns
37:25
Speaker 1: it off with a profession of kindness for Jacob's wives
37:28
Speaker 1: and children verse forty three. These daughters are my daughters.
37:32
Speaker 1: When he cannot excuse what he has done, he does
37:35
Speaker 1: in effect own what he should have done. He should
37:37
Speaker 1: have treated them as his own, but he had counted
37:40
Speaker 1: them as strangers verse fifteen. Note it is common for
37:44
Speaker 1: those who are without natural affection to pretend much to
37:47
Speaker 1: it when it will serve a turn. Or perhaps Laban
37:50
Speaker 1: said this in a vainglorious way, as one that loved
37:53
Speaker 1: to talk big and use great swelling words of vanity.
37:56
Speaker 1: All that thou seest is mine. It was not so.
37:59
Speaker 1: It was all Jacobs, and he had paid dearly for it.
38:02
Speaker 1: Yet Jacob let him have his saying, perceiving him coming
38:05
Speaker 1: into a better humor. Note property lies near the hearts
38:09
Speaker 1: of worldly people. They love to boast of it. This
38:11
Speaker 1: is mine and the other is mine, as Nabel Verse
38:14
Speaker 1: Samuel twenty five and eleven My bread and my Water
38:19
Speaker 1: Numeral two. He proposes a covenant of friendship between them,
38:22
Speaker 1: to which Jacob readily agrees, without insisting upon Laban's submission,
38:27
Speaker 1: much less his restitution. Note when quarrels happen, we should
38:31
Speaker 1: be willing to be friends again upon any terms. Peace
38:35
Speaker 1: and love are such valuable jewels that we can scarcely
38:38
Speaker 1: buy them too. Dearly better sit down, losers than go
38:41
Speaker 1: on and strife. Now observe here number one the substance
38:45
Speaker 1: of this covenant. Jacob left it holy to Laban to
38:49
Speaker 1: settle it. The tenor of it was subscript one, that
38:53
Speaker 1: Jacob should be a good husband to his wives, that
38:56
Speaker 1: he should not afflict them, nor marry other wives besides
38:59
Speaker 1: them Verse fifteen. Jacob had never given him any cause
39:02
Speaker 1: to suspect that he would be any other than a
39:05
Speaker 1: kind husband. Yet as if he had, he was willing
39:08
Speaker 1: to come under this engagement. Though Laban had afflicted them himself,
39:13
Speaker 1: Yet he will bind Jacob that he shall not afflict them.
39:16
Speaker 1: Note those that are injurious themselves are commonly most jealous
39:20
Speaker 1: of others, and those that do not do their own
39:23
Speaker 1: duty are most peremptory in demanding duty from others. Subscript two,
39:29
Speaker 1: that he should never be a bad neighbor to Laban
39:31
Speaker 1: Verse fifty two. It was agreed that no act of
39:34
Speaker 1: hostility should ever pass between them. That Jacob should forgive
39:38
Speaker 1: and forget all the wrongs he had received, and not
39:40
Speaker 1: remember them against Laban or his family in after times.
39:44
Speaker 1: Note we may resent an injury, which yet we may
39:47
Speaker 1: not revenge. Number two the ceremony of this covenant. It
39:51
Speaker 1: was made and ratified with great solemnity according to the
39:54
Speaker 1: usages of those times. Subscript on. A pillar was erected
39:59
Speaker 1: verse forty five, and a heap of stones raised verse
40:02
Speaker 1: forty six to perpetuate the memory or the thing. The
40:05
Speaker 1: way of recording agreements by writing being then either not
40:08
Speaker 1: known or not used. Subscript two. A sacrifice was offered
40:13
Speaker 1: verse fifty four, a sacrifice of peace offerings. Note. Our
40:17
Speaker 1: peace with God is that which puts true comfort into
40:20
Speaker 1: our peace with our friends. If parties contend, the reconciliation
40:24
Speaker 1: of both to Him will facilitate their reconciliation one to another.
40:29
Speaker 1: Subscript three. They did eat bread together verse forty six,
40:33
Speaker 1: jointly partaking of the feast upon the sacrifice. Verse fifty four.
40:38
Speaker 1: This was in token of a hearty reconciliation. Covenants of
40:42
Speaker 1: friendship were anciently ratified by the parties eating and drinking together.
40:46
Speaker 1: It was in the nature of a love feast. Subscript four.
40:50
Speaker 1: They solemnly appealed to God concerning their sincerity herein sub
40:54
Speaker 1: point one as a witness verse forty nine, the Lord
40:58
Speaker 1: watched between me and thee. That is, the Lord, take
41:01
Speaker 1: cognizance of everything that shall be done on either side
41:03
Speaker 1: and violation of this league. When we are out of
41:06
Speaker 1: one another's site. Let his be a restraint upon us,
41:09
Speaker 1: that wherever we are, we are under God's eye. This
41:12
Speaker 1: appeal is convertible into a prayer. Friends at a distance
41:15
Speaker 1: from each other may take the comfort of this that,
41:18
Speaker 1: when they cannot know or succor one another, God watches
41:21
Speaker 1: between them and has his eye on them both sub
41:25
Speaker 1: point two. As a judge verse fifty three. The God
41:29
Speaker 1: of Abraham, from whom Jacob descended, and the God of Nahor,
41:33
Speaker 1: from whom Laban descended, the God of their father, the
41:36
Speaker 1: common ancestor from whom they both descended. Judge betwixt Us.
41:41
Speaker 1: God's relation to them is thus expressed to intimate that
41:44
Speaker 1: they worshiped one and the same God, upon which consideration
41:48
Speaker 1: there ought to be no enmity between them. Note those
41:52
Speaker 1: that have one God should have one heart. Those that
41:55
Speaker 1: agree in religion should strive to agree in everything else.
41:58
Speaker 1: God is judge between can tending parties, and he will
42:01
Speaker 1: judge righteously. Whoever does wrong. It is at his peril.
42:05
Speaker 1: Subscript five. They gave a new name to the place
42:08
Speaker 1: Verse forty seven and forty eight. Laban called it in
42:12
Speaker 1: Syriac and Jacob in Hebrew, the Heap of witness, and
42:16
Speaker 1: verse forty nine it was called Mizpah, a watch tower. Posterity,
42:20
Speaker 1: being included in the league, care was taken that thus
42:23
Speaker 1: the memory of it should be preserved. These names are
42:26
Speaker 1: applicable to the seals of the Gospel Covenant, which are
42:29
Speaker 1: witnesses to us if we be faithful, but witnesses against
42:33
Speaker 1: us if we be false. The name Jacob gave this heap,
42:36
Speaker 1: Gilead stuck by it, not the name Laban gave it.
42:40
Speaker 1: In all this recounter, Laban was noisy and full of words,
42:43
Speaker 1: affecting to say much. Jacob was silent and said little.
42:47
Speaker 1: When Laban appealed to God, under many titles. Jacob only
42:50
Speaker 1: swore by the fear of his father Isaac, that is,
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Speaker 1: the god whom his father Isaac feared, who had never
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Speaker 1: served other gods, as Abraham and Nahor had done. Two
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Speaker 1: words of Jacob's were more memorable than all Laban's speeches
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Speaker 1: and vain repetitions, for the words of wise men are
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Speaker 1: heard and quiet more than the cry of Him that
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Speaker 1: ruleth among fools. Ecclesiastes, Chapter nine, verse seventeen. Lastly, after
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Speaker 1: all this angry parley, they part friends verse fifty five.
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Speaker 1: Laban very affectionately kissed his sons and his daughters and
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Speaker 1: blessed them, and then went back in peace. Note God
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Speaker 1: is often better to us than our fears, and strangely
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Speaker 1: overrules the spirits of men in our favor beyond what
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Speaker 1: we could have expected, for it is not in vain
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Speaker 1: to trust in him. End of Chapter thirty one.