Genesis 29:1-141Then Jacob went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east. 2And 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. 3And 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. 4And Jacob said unto them, My brethren, whence be ye? And they said, Of Haran are we. 5And he said unto them, Know ye Laban the son of Nahor? And they said, We know him. 6And he said unto them, Is he well? And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep. 7And 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. 8And 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. 9And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father's sheep: for she kept them. 10And 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. 11And Jacob kissed Rachel, and lifted up his voice, and wept. 12And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father's brother, and that he was Rebekah's son: and she ran and told her father. 13And 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. 14And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month. (Genesis 29:1‑14)
“THEN JACOB went on his journey, and came into the land of the people of the east.” v.l. No further account of Jacob’s journey is given, but he was confronted over those long miles with wearisome desert surroundings, knowing the heat of day and the cold of night thoughts of the comforts of the home he had left behind, and uncertainty as to the future surely adding to his misery. It must have been a lonely journey indeed for Jacob who as yet had scarcely learned to cast his cares upon the One who alone could have comforted him.
At last he reached the land of Haran. Coming to the welcome sight of sheep lying by wells of water, with their attending shepherds, he asked: “Know ye Laban the son of Nahor?... And they said, He is well: and, behold, Rachel his daughter cometh with the sheep.” vv. 5,6. The picture brings to memory the day when Eliezer, the servant of Abram, came to this same land and by a well of water found Rebekah, who was to become the bride of Isaac. But what a contrast there was to the two occasions! In the first, the servant could happily display the wealth of his master and make gifts thereof, as well as tell of his honored place in Canaan’s land. In the second, however, Jacob had no gifts to offer. The servant, in the presence of his hosts, gladly spoke of the One who had prospered his way: “The LORD God of my master Abraham,” said he, “led me in the right way.” Chap. 24:48. But Jacob remained silent on this subject.
“And while he yet spake with them, Rachel came with her father’s sheep: for she kept them... (and) Jacob went near, and rolled the stone from the well’s mouth, and watered the flock... And Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s brother (nephew), and that he was Rebekah’s son: and she ran and told her father.” vv. 9-12.
It was an emotional scene when these two cousins thus met for the first time. In those days news traveled slowly and there is no record of any communication between the two families since that day long bore when Rebekah had left her home to be Isaac’s bride. Her brother Laban would now be an old man — well over 100 years of age — and her parents certainly gone many years back. It is no wonder that Jacob “lifted up his voice, and wept,” and that Rachel “ran and told her father.”
“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. And Laban said to him, Surely thou art my bone and my flesh. And he abode with him the space of a month.” vv. 13,14. It is easy to imagine how cheered Jacob’s heart must have been to receive this warm welcome. Here would be a good place to settle down and be free from his brother Esau’s wrath. But he had some sad surprises awaiting him while he dwelt in this land.
ML-09/25/1966