LESSON XX.—JACOB IN PADAN-ARAM.
2. Why was it necessary to send him so far from home? Gen. 27: 41. 4. Where did he rest the first night after he started on his journey? Gen. 28: 11, 19. 5. Where did he make his bed? 6. What did he take for a pillow? 8. What promises were made him? Verses 13–15. 9. How did this dream affect Jacob’s mind? Verses 16, 17. 10. What solemn vow did he make? Verses 20–22. 11. Whom did Jacob meet at a well, after he had reached the land of the east? Gen. 29: 1–9. 12. When Rachel learned that Jacob was a near relative, what did she do? 14. What was the first agreement between them? 15. How did the Lord prosper Laban while Jacob was serving him? 16. What caused Laban and his sons to feel envious toward Jacob? 17. To what degree had the Lord prospered Jacob? 18. What course had Laban taken in regard to Jacob’s wages? Gen. 31: 7. 19. What did the Lord finally tell Jacob to do? Gen. 31: 3. 20. What words had Jacob heard from Laban’s sons? Verse 1. 21. What change had he noticed in Laban? Verse 2. 22. Whom did Jacob consult before starting on his journey? Verses 4–13. 23. What did they say about going away from their father? Verses 14–16. 24. Where was Laban at the time Jacob started on his journey? Verse 19. 25. What did Laban do when he learned that Jacob had gone? Verse 23. 26. Where did he overtake Jacob? 27. How was he prevented from harming Jacob? Verse 29. 28. Describe Laban’s parting with Jacob and his family. Verse 55. Esau’s anger was so kindled against Jacob that he threatened to kill him, and Isaac and Rebekah thought it best to send Jacob away immediately. So Jacob started, on foot and alone, for Padan-aram, the country where his Uncle Laban lived. He must have walked more than sixty miles the first day. At night he lay upon the ground, and took a stone for a pillow. He had a wonderful dream that night. He saw a ladder reaching from earth to Heaven, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon it. The Lord stood above it and repeated to him the promises which had been made to Abraham and Isaac. This made a very deep impression on Jacob’s mind, and he made a solemn vow that if God would be with him and bring him again to his father’s house, then the Lord should be his God, and he would give him a tenth of all. As Jacob journeyed on, he came into the land of the people of the east; and as he was stopping at a well where shepherds watered their flocks, Rachel, the daughter of Laban, his mother’s brother, came to the well with her father’s sheep. Upon learning that Jacob was a near relative, she conducted him to her father’s house. Here Jacob remained, and served Laban twenty years; fourteen years for his two daughters, and six years for his cattle. At first, Jacob agreed to serve seven years for Rachel; but at the end of that time Laban practiced a cruel deception upon him, and gave him Leah instead of Rachel. Then he was obliged to serve seven years longer for Rachel. All the time that Jacob served Laban, the Lord prospered Laban in an unusual manner; but after Jacob began to serve for a part of the cattle, Laban and his sons became very envious of the wonderful prosperity that attended Jacob. Laban changed Jacob’s wages ten times, yet his prosperity was unabated. The Lord blessed him so abundantly that he had cattle and sheep almost without number. At last the feeling became so strong against Jacob that the Lord told him to return to Canaan. He consulted Rachel and Leah, and they were willing to go. So when Laban was away three days’ journey, Jacob gathered up all that he had, and departed. Laban pursued Jacob, and overtook him in Mount Gilead. He reproved Jacob sharply, but did not harm him; for God had warned him in a dream not to interfere with Jacob’s affairs in any way. After parting with Jacob and his family in the most friendly manner, he returned to his home, and left Jacob to pursue his journey in peace.