Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.
Jacob spoke these words to Laban after leaving with his family and all he had during Laban's absence, when Laban had pursued and overtaken him after God had pitied Jacob and warned Laban in a dream not to force him to return nor to urge him with flattering inducements. In them he endured consuming, scorching heat and drought by day and frost and freezing cold by night while tending Laban's flocks, sheep and cattle, losing sleep through constant, sleepless vigilance in guarding them. He described this hardship as the experience of twenty years tending Laban's sheep.
His service to Laban was difficult and exhausting, continuing long enough that he grew weary and asked to return to his own country. His care was required through both the dry, driest season of the year and the coldest months, when he guarded the flocks from perishing with thirst and from becoming chilled by heavy night frosts. He was chief shepherd over his own and Laban's flocks, with servants under him to help tend them, yet the responsibility for the whole matter rested on him, so that in some seasons he himself had to be with the flocks day and night.
He bore the whole burden of his charge, making good from his own hand and personally suffering the loss for what was torn by beasts or stolen or missing by day or night. His words describe the shepherd's unwearied labor and the dangers and discomforts of guarding the flock, protecting unguarded sheep and cattle from common bold wild beasts that would injure them and from unprincipled shepherds and thieves who stole neighbors' cattle to enrich themselves. He cited these hardships and borne losses as evidence of his faithful service and upright conduct while with Laban, in contrast to Laban's ungenerous course of seeking only his own advantage.
A shepherd must be merciful and possess courage and perseverance, must call the servants entrusted with the flock to strict account if the flock is not found in flourishing condition, and must himself suffer the loss if any are missing or torn. His faithful care for suffering, sick and wounded sheep illustrates the still greater watchcare and personal concern of the Great Shepherd for His people. His diligence is an example of the self-denying care required of ministers, who must labor for the flock's welfare rather than for their own ease or wages.
Jacob spoke these words to Laban after leaving with his family and all he had during Laban's absence, when Laban had pursued and overtaken him after God had pitied Jacob and warned Laban in a dream not to force him to return nor to urge him with flattering inducements. In them he endured consuming, scorching heat and drought by day and frost and freezing cold by night while tending Laban's flocks, sheep and cattle, losing sleep through constant, sleepless vigilance in guarding them. He described this hardship as the experience of twenty years tending Laban's sheep.
His service to Laban was difficult and exhausting, continuing long enough that he grew weary and asked to return to his own country. His care was required through both the dry, driest season of the year and the coldest months, when he guarded the flocks from perishing with thirst and from becoming chilled by heavy night frosts. He was chief shepherd over his own and Laban's flocks, with servants under him to help tend them, yet the responsibility for the whole matter rested on him, so that in some seasons he himself had to be with the flocks day and night.
He bore the whole burden of his charge, making good from his own hand and personally suffering the loss for what was torn by beasts or stolen or missing by day or night. His words describe the shepherd's unwearied labor and the dangers and discomforts of guarding the flock, protecting unguarded sheep and cattle from common bold wild beasts that would injure them and from unprincipled shepherds and thieves who stole neighbors' cattle to enrich themselves. He cited these hardships and borne losses as evidence of his faithful service and upright conduct while with Laban, in contrast to Laban's ungenerous course of seeking only his own advantage.
A shepherd must be merciful and possess courage and perseverance, must call the servants entrusted with the flock to strict account if the flock is not found in flourishing condition, and must himself suffer the loss if any are missing or torn. His faithful care for suffering, sick and wounded sheep illustrates the still greater watchcare and personal concern of the Great Shepherd for His people. His diligence is an example of the self-denying care required of ministers, who must labor for the flock's welfare rather than for their own ease or wages.