Chapter
29
Jacob
comes to the well of Haran
1 Then
Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the
east. 2 And
he looked, and behold a well in the field, and, lo, there were
three flocks of sheep lying by it; for out of that well they watered
the flocks: and a great stone was upon the well's
mouth. 3 And
thither were all the flocks gathered: and they rolled the stone from
the well's mouth, and watered the sheep, and put the stone again upon
the well's mouth in his place. 4 And
Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye?
And they said, Of Haran are we. 5 And
he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We
know him. 6 And
he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He
is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the
sheep. 7 And
he said, Lo, it is yet high day, neither is
it time that the cattle should be gathered together: water ye
the sheep, and go and feed them.
8 And
they said, We cannot, until all the flocks be gathered together, and till
they roll the stone from the well's mouth; then we water the sheep.
He
meets Rachel by the well
9 And
while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for
she kept them. 10 And
it came to pass, when Jacob saw Rachel the daughter of Laban his
mother's brother, and the sheep of Laban his mother's brother, that
Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well's mouth, and
watered the flock of Laban his mother's brother. 11 And
Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. 12 And
Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother,
and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told
her father. 13 And
it came to pass, when Laban heard the tidings of Jacob his sister's
son, that he ran to meet him, and embraced him, and kissed him, and
brought him to his house. And he told Laban all these things. 14 And
Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my
flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month. 15 And
Laban said unto Jacob, Because thou art my brother,
shouldest thou therefore serve me for nought? tell me, what shall
thy wages be? 16 And
Laban had two daughters: the name of the elder was
Leah, and the name of the younger was Rachel. 17 Leah
was tender eyed; but Rachel was beautiful and well
favoured. 18 And
Jacob loved Rachel; and said, I will serve thee seven years for Rachel
thy younger daughter. 19 And
Laban said, It is better that I give her to thee,
than that I should give her to another man: abide with me. 20 And
Jacob served seven years for Rachel; and they seemed unto him but
a few days, for the love he had to her. 21 And
Jacob said unto Laban, Give me my wife, for my days
are fulfilled, that I may go in unto her. 22 And
Laban gathered together all the men of the place, and made a feast. 23 And
it came to pass in the evening, that he took Leah his daughter, and
brought her to him; and he went in unto her. 24 And
Laban gave unto his daughter Leah Zilpah his maid for
an handmaid. 25 And
it came to pass, that in the morning, behold, it was
Leah: and he said to Laban, What is this thou hast
done unto me? did not I serve with thee for Rachel? wherefore then hast
thou beguiled me? 26 And
Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the younger
before the firstborn. 27 Fulfil
her week, and we will give thee this also for the service which thou
shalt serve with me yet seven other years. 28 And
Jacob did so, and fulfilled her week: and he gave him Rachel his
daughter to wife also. 29 And
Laban gave to Rachel his daughter Bilhah his handmaid to be her maid. 30 And
he went in also unto Rachel, and he loved also Rachel more than Leah,
and served with him yet seven other years. 31 And
when the Lord
saw that Leah was hated, he opened her womb: but
Rachel was barren. 32 And
Leah conceived, and bare a son, and she called his name Reuben: for she
said, Surely the Lord
hath looked upon my affliction; now therefore my husband will love me. 33 And
she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Because the Lord hath
heard that I was hated, he hath therefore given me
this son also: and she called his name Simeon. 34 And
she conceived again, and bare a son; and said, Now this time will my
husband be joined unto me, because I have born him three sons:
therefore was his name called Levi. 35 And
she conceived again, and bare a son: and she said, Now will I praise
the Lord:
therefore she called his name Judah; and left bearing.
Gen 29:1-35 (KJV)
Morning
Verse
"Thou
hatest wickedness." Psalm
45:7
"Be ye angry, and sin not." There can hardly be goodness in a
man if he be not angry at sin; he who loves truth must hate every false
way. How our Lord Jesus hated it when the temptation came! Thrice it
assailed Him in different forms, but ever He met it with, "Get thee
behind me, Satan." He hated it in others; none the less fervently
because He showed His hate oftener in tears of pity than in words of
rebuke; yet what language could be more stern, more Elijah-like, than
the words, "Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye
devour widows' houses, and for a pretence make long prayer." He hated
wickedness, so much that He bled to wound it to the heart; He died that
it might die; He was buried that He might bury it in His tomb; and He
rose that He might for ever trample it beneath His feet. Christ is in
the Gospel, and that Gospel is opposed to wickedness in every shape.
Wickedness arrays itself in fair garments, and imitates the language of
holiness; but the precepts of Jesus, like His famous scourge of small
cords, chase it out of the temple, and will not tolerate it in the
Church. So, too, in the heart where Jesus reigns, what war there is
between Christ and Belial! And when our Redeemer shall come to be our
Judge, those thundering words, "Depart, ye cursed" which are, indeed,
but a prolongation of His life-teaching concerning sin, shall manifest
His abhorrence of iniquity. As warm as is His love to sinners, so hot
is His hatred of sin; as perfect as is His righteousness, so complete
shall be the destruction of every form of wickedness. O thou glorious
champion of right, and destroyer of wrong, for this cause hath God,
even Thy God, anointed thee with the oil of gladness above Thy fellows.
Evening
Verse
"Cursed
be the man before the Lord, that riseth up and buildeth this city
Jericho." Joshua
6:26
Since he was cursed who rebuilt Jericho, I much more the man
who labours to restore Popery among us. In our fathers' days the
gigantic walls of Popery fell by the power of their faith, the
perseverance of their efforts, and the blast of their gospel trumpets;
and now there are some who would rebuild that accursed system upon its
old foundation. O Lord, be pleased to thwart their unrighteous
endeavours, and pull down every stone which they build. It should be a
serious business with us to be thoroughly purged of every error which
may have a tendency to foster the spirit of Popery, and when we have
made a clean sweep at home we should seek in every way to oppose its
all too rapid spread abroad in the church and in the world. This last
can be done in secret by fervent prayer, and in public by decided
testimony. We must warn with judicious boldness those who are inclined
towards the errors of Rome; we must instruct the young in gospel truth,
and tell them of the black doings of Popery in the olden times. We must
aid in spreading the light more thoroughly through the land, for
priests, like owls, hate daylight. Are we doing all we can for Jesus
and the gospel? If not, our negligence plays into the hands of the
priestcraft. What are we doing to spread the Bible, which is the Pope's
bane and poison? Are we casting abroad good, sound gospel writings?
Luther once said, "The devil hates goose quills" and, doubtless, he has
good reason, for ready writers, by the Holy Spirit's blessing, have
done his kingdom much damage. If the thousands who will read this short
word this night will do all they can to hinder the rebuilding of this
accursed Jericho, the Lord's glory shall speed among the sons of men.
Reader, what can you do? What will you do?
—Morning and Evening
Specail Trinity Prayer
Let us Pray
[to the one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit
that our lives may bear witness to our faith]
Father,
you sent your Word
to bring us truth
and your Spirit to make us holy.
Through them we come to know
the mystery of your life.
Help us to worship you,
one God in three Persons,
by proclaiming and living our faith in you.
We ask you this, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,
one God, true and living, for ever and ever.
