Genesis 31; 22; 33; 35
AT last Jacob said to Laban his uncle, "I have been your servant for a long while, and now I want to go home." But Laban would not let Jacob go away; and he behaved very unkindly to Jacob; so that Jacob wished more and more to go home.
Once, while Jacob was taking care of the sheep in the field, he fell asleep, and he had a dream, and in his dream he heard God say to him, "Go home to your father, and I will be with you.”
When Jacob awoke he sent a servant to fetch Rachel and Leah, for he wanted to speak to them; and he said to them, "God has spoken to me in a dream, and has told me to return home to my father.”
Then Rachel and Leah said, "We will go with you.”
Then Jacob packed up all his things—his tents and his clothes, and his furniture, and all he had. He put his things on the backs of his camels and asses. He placed his wives and his eleven children on camels, too. He told his servants to drive all his sheep, cows, goats, and asses, and camels. So they all set out.
Laban did not see Jacob go away; for Jacob's tents were not close to the place where Laban lived. At last, Laban heard that Jacob was gone; then he was angry, aid he went after Jacob, and he begged Jacob to come back; but Jacob would go back to Canaan.
Jacob was pleased to go back to Canaan; but there was one thing that frightened him. He remembered that Esau had once said he would kill him; he was afraid lest he should now come and kill him and his children.
Soon Jacob heard that Esau was coming with four hundred men. Jacob now thought that Esau was coming to kill him. So he began to pray to God, and said, "O God, Thou hast been very kind to me, and given me a great many things—do not let Esau come and hurt me, and kill my wives and my little children. Thou didst promise to take care of me." God heard Jacob's prayer.
Jacob thought to himself, "I will send a present, to show Esau that I wish to behave kindly to him." So he took a great many goats, and sheep, and cows, and asses, and camels, and told his servants to drive them on before, and to tell Esau that he had sent them as a present. Jacob prayed to God all through that night.
In the morning Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming, and four hundred men with him. Jacob did not run away; but he went up to Esau, and as he walked, he stopped seven times, and bowed down to the ground.
And what was it Esau did?
He ran and put his arms round Jacob's neck and kissed him, and they both wept. God had made Esau's heart more kind.
How glad Jacob was to find that his brother was grown kind Jacob had prayed to God to make him kind, and God had heard his prayer.
Esau looked up, and saw Rachel and Leah and the little children; and Esau said, "Who are these?”
And Jacob said, "These are my children, that God has been so kind as to give me.”
Then Rachel and Leah bowed themselves to the ground, and the maids bowed themselves and all the children bowed, even the youngest, who was quite a little child. He was Rachel's child, and his name was Joseph.
Then Esau said to Jacob, "I met a great many sheep, and cows, and goats-why did you send them on before you?”
Jacob said, "They were for a present for you.”
Esau answered, "I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself.”
"Pray take my present," said Jacob, "for God has given me a great deal." And Jacob begged Esau so much to take it, that at last he took it.
Esau said to. Jacob, "Let us take our journey together; and I will go on first.”
But Jacob said, “I cannot go as fast as you do, for I have many little children with me, and young lambs and goats; and if one day we were to drive them too fast, they would die." So Jacob would not go with Esau.
Then Esau went home to his own house, which was a great way off; for Esau did not live in Canaan. But Jacob stayed in the land of Canaan, for he wished to live there: You see that God had let Jacob come back to Canaan, as He had promised. Jacob did not forget the sweet dream I told you of. He went to that very place once more; he had made a heap of stones to mark the place; so he could find it again. There he built an altar, and offered sacrifices to God, Who had been so kind to him. God had given him food and clothes, as He had promised; and He had given him many more things besides, for God had given him wives and children, and servants and cattle; and God had made his brother kind to him, and had let him come back to Canaan. Jacob loved God Very much, and thanked Him for His kindness.
Has not God been very kind to you, my dear children? Tell me what things He has given. Can you think of ten or twelve things He has given you? Food, clothes, etc., etc. Sometimes people have been unkind to you, and God has made them grow kind. How much you ought to love God!
Hymn 9
The Lord Who all things did create,
Doth still His wonders show;
See Esau's heart, once filled with hate,
With sudden love o'erflow.
A humble staff poor Jacob bore,
When first he left the land;
But now behold his plenteous store,
And his sweet infant band.
Long since the voice of God he heard.
Foretelling days of peace:
Now God fulfills His gracious word,
And bids his troubles cease.
Let every knee before Him bow,
Who can all wonders do-
All hearts can change, all gifts bestow,
Make every word come true.
Child
Sweet promises are made to me,
If I Serve God in truth
Thy wonders great, oh let me see,
Guide of my tender youth
If any hate or wish me ill,
Lord, fill their hearts with love,
And feed, and clothe, and bless me still
Then waft my soul above.