262. JACOB'S EXILE AND RETURN

"I will keep thee in all places whither thou goest"

Esau determined to slay Jacob because he had by guile obtained the blessing. When this news reached Rebekah, she advised Jacob to depart. She persuaded Isaac to send Jacob away so he could choose a Godly wife. Isaac formally conferred the Abrahamic Covenant upon his youngest son and sent him to Padanaram to Laban, the brother of Rebekah.

The aim of this lesson is to show God's faithfulness in his care of Jacob.

Genesis 28-33

THE DREAM AND VOW AT BETHEL (Gen. 28:10-22).

On his way north, Jacob slept, and in a dream saw a vision of a stair case linking heaven and earth with angels of God ascending and descen ding upon it. God, who in the dream stood above the staircase, spoke and directly confirmed His promise made to Abraham and Isaac € the land upon which Jacob lay would be given to him and through him would come the seed in whom all earth's families would be blessed. As the stair case joined heaven and earth, so heaven would join with earth in this seed: Jesus Christ, the Son of God and the Son of Man (Jn. 1:51). Moreover the staircase served to illustrate God's constant care of Jacob: "I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest" (v.15).

Jacob awoke in trepidation with the words on his lips, "How dreadful is this place!" Knowing God's presence had been there, he named it 'Bethel' (House of God). There he made a solemn vow € if God would preserve and provide for him and bring him back to his father's house in peace, "then shall Yahweh be my God" (vv.20-22). Faith had begun to take root and Jacob commenced the road of self-renunciation and reliance upon God, which culminated at the end of his life in complete and implicit obedience, as his confessions reveal (48:15-16).

God honoured His vow with Jacob, later advising him to leave Laban with the assurance, "I will be with thee" (31:3). His peaceful reunion with Esau (33:4), the divine protection afforded him when he left Shechem and came to Bethel (35:5), and at last his return to Isaac (35:27), testify to God's faithfulness and steadfast love.

JACOB IN EXILE (Gen. 29).

By the hand of providence, Jacob met Rachel beside a well as she came to water her father's sheep. Jacob kissed his cousin and wept. God had prospered his journey and he was cordially received into his uncle's home.

Laban had two daughters, Leah and Rachel. Rachel was beautiful and Jacob loved her deeply and agreed to serve Laban seven years for her. At the end of this period, however, he was the victim of the same deceit he had first practiced against his father € Leah was given to him, for, said Laban, the younger should not be given before the elder! In this way Laban contrived to retain Jacob another seven years. So he served Laban 14 years for his two daughters.

Leah and Rachel were given handmaids, Zilpah and Bilhah. From these four women soon came the twelve sons of Jacob amidst con siderable domestic upheaval and rivalry. Jacob was now a man with large responsibilities and he sought release from Laban to provide for his own (30:1-26). Laban had prospered so long as Jacob worked for him, but Jacob found him a hard taskmaster (31:38-42). Despite this Jacob agreed to stay on and work for wages € the inferior sheep and cattle would be his. But God so blessed Jacob that his portion exceeded Laban's (v.43). This aroused the envy of Laban's sons and affected adversely his position among them.

DEPARTURE FROM LABAN (Gen. 31-32).

The time had come to leave and God advised Jacob to return to his father's house. Rachel and Leah appreciated the problem and agreed to leave secretly so that Laban could not interfere with their plans. Three days later, when Laban realized what had happened, he took his brethren and pursued and overtook Jacob, but God intervened and warned Laban to do Jacob no harm.

Laban accused Jacob of stealth and theft, but he was unable to prove his charges (vv.23-25). So Jacob spoke to vindicate himself. He reiterated his honest and faithful service compared with Laban's injustices: "Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the fear of Isaac had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty" (v.42). Despite these accusations against each other, wisdom prevailed, and they covenanted before God to do each other no harm.

Jacob went his ways, but new fears assailed him; he would soon have to face his brother Esau! And then his messengers returned with the startling news that his brother Esau was coming to meet him with 400 men (32:6). But Jacob was learning to trust in God. Had not God ap peared to him in Bethel? Had not God prospered him in Padan-aram and spared him from Laban's vengeance? Surely experience had taught him to hope in God (Rom. 5:2-5). To God he would go. In great humility he pleaded for protection on the basis of the promises of God (32:9-12, cp. 28:13-15; 31:3). After sending a generous gift to Esau, Jacob sent his family over the brook Jabbok and remained alone.

JACOB BECOMES ISRAEL (Gen. 32:24-32).

All night Jacob wrestled with an angel. At the break of day the angel sought release but prevailed not. He touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh as he wrestled and put it out of joint. But still Jacob would not let him go. He greatly desired the angel to bless him in this his hour of fear and need.

The tenacity of Jacob is notable. Divine blessings only come to those who persistently seek them. In reply to Jacob's request, the angel asked him his name. The blessing was contained in a significant change of name € from Jacob (Supplanter) to Israel (a Prince with God). The former spoke of human self-sufficiency, the latter of dependence on God: "Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel; for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed." In these words he was told that as he had prevailed with God (Heb. Elohim, i.e. the angel), he would certainly prevail with men. This answered his immediate need. He could now approach Esau with his 400 men in confidence. God was with him so what could man do to him? In any case what could he do now that his flesh was weak? This is the significance of the name "Israel". Jacob called the name of the place Peniel (the face of God) because he had seen God face to face. Actually he saw the angel (as the Heb. Elohim signifies, cp. Psa. 8:5), for no man can see God (cp. Hos. 12:3; Jn. 1:18; 1 Tim. 6:16).

Events that followed portray a graphic picture. When the sun arose Jacob was late but could not hurry because of what the angel had done to his thigh. He hobbled as best he could to catch up with his family know ing now that there was nothing he could do in his own strength to protect them. But without fear now he lifted his eyes and saw Esau approaching with his 400 men. Esau was pleased to see him: "he ran to meet him and embraced him and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept" (33:4). Surely God was with Jacob as He had promised (28:20-22). In safety he came to the city of Shechem where he dwelt for some time. "Shalom" in 33:18 means "peace" and describes his state of mind and not a place € cp. R.S.V. "Jacob came safely to the city of Shechem".

JACOB'S EXPERIENCE PREFIGURES ISRAEL'S HISTORY.

It was because of his relationship to God that Jacob not only limped and halted for the rest of his life, but also received protection and salva tion! This is a parable of the experiences of the nation that developed from him and which took on the name he was given.

Knowledge brought responsibility in Israel. They could not sin with im punity (Amos 3:1-2), and so they suffered more than any other nation. But the promises of God likewise cannot fail (Rom. 11:2,28, 29). Though they have suffered, they yet survive as a nation and their destiny is to be head and not tail € at that time God will "assemble her that HALTETH... and make her that was cast off a strong nation" (Micah 4:6-7; Zeph. 3:19). But like Jacob, they must learn the condition of divine blessing € self-surrender. Today Israel rests on the arm of the flesh and her pride and arrogance are renowned. When humbled and converted, she shall trust in Yahweh and this song shall be sung in Judah: "We have a strong city; salvation will God appoint for walls and bulwarks... Trust ye in the Lord forever...".

The lesson reaches down to the individual level. Do we rely on God or self? Constant prayer and daily yearning for the Word of God evidence a life which is God-centered and which will qualify for the blessings to come.

LESSONS FOR US:

• In fear Jacob fled from Esau and God comforted him and promised to be with him. He is with all those who serve him (Heb. 13:5).
• Jacob had deceived his father to obtain the blessing, but he became in turn the victim of deceit at the hand of Laban. "Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap" (Gal. 6:7).
• Jacob greatly feared Esau's approach with 400 men, but the angel that wrestled all night with him, taught him to rely on God and not "the flesh".
• The meanings of "Jacob" and "Israel" are a parable of the history of Israel and contain great personal lessons for today. We, like Jacob, must learn to depend upon God and not upon self (Prov. 3:5-6).

REFERENCE LIBRARY:

"Elpis Israel" (J. Thomas) € Pages 270-274

"The Ways of Providence" (R. Roberts) € Chapter 6

"Story of the Bible" (H. P. Mansfield) € Vol. 1, Pages 151-176

PARAGRAPH QUESTIONS:

1. What vow did Jacob make with God at Bethel? How was it fulfilled?
2. Briefly describe Jacob's experiences with Laban.
3. Describe Jacob's encounter with the angel at Peniel.

ESSAY QUESTIONS:

1. Explain how Jacob learned to trust in God through his experiences with Laban and Esau.
2. Ho w was Jacob deceived by Laban? Ho w did God compensate Jacob?
3. What is the significance of Jacob's change of name:

1. in relation to the time when he met Esau?
2. in relation to the nation that came of him?

1. Jacob flees from Esau after he obtained the blessing Isaac intended for Esau (27:41-46; 28:1-5).
2. Resting for the night at Bethel, Jacob is given the vision of angels ascending and descending on a staircase (28:10-22).
3. At Padan-Aram Jacob serves Laban 14 years for Leah and Rachel (29:1-30).
4. After working several years for the deceitful Laban, Jacob leaves secretly with his wives, children and flocks (31:1-18).
5. He wrestles with the angel at Peniel and the next day meets Esau who unexpectedly (and providentially) proves friendly (32:22-32; 33:1-16).
6. Jacob pitches his tent near Shechem, but leaves in haste when his sons Simeon and Levi kill the men of Shechem for the treatment of Dinah their sister (33:18-20; 34:1-31).
7. Jacob returns to Bethel and builds an altar (35:1-15).
8. He returns to his father Isaac, now dwelling at Hebron, the city where Abraham had dwelt (35:27).
9. Later Jacob and his household move to Egypt at the instigation of Joseph (46:1-7).