passing pleasures of sin; and on that day they will find themselves, in very deed, shut out from heaven and condemned to everlasting torments.
Application. Esau sinned through his greedy desire for the pottage. Have you never sinned by gluttony? Try for the future to overcome your greedy desires. Bear hunger and thirst for a short time with cheerfulness; and be not dainty about your food. He who does not tame his appetites, and deny himself, cannot be virtuous or happy.
Jacob ought to have given the mess willingly to his hungry brother. Have you never been selfish towards your brothers and sisters, and wished to keep everything for yourself, or chosen the best or largest portion for yourself?
Do you ever tell lies? Some day you must make satisfaction for every lie. God hates lies, because He is the very truth. If you wish to be a child of God, always tell the truth. “Lying lips are an abomination to the Lord” (Prov. 12, 22).
Chapter XVI.
JACOB’S FLIGHT.— HIS VISION OF THE LADDER AND SOJOURN WITH LABAN.
[Gen. 27, 42 to 29, 19.]
ESAU was very angry, because he had lost the blessing. He resolved to kill Jacob. Rebecca knew[1] the evil intentions of Esau, and saw that the life of Jacob was in danger. She therefore called Jacob and said to him: “My son, flee to Laban[2], my brother, and dwell with him, till the wrath[3] of thy brother hath passed away.” Jacob at once set out[4]. As he went on, it hap-
- ↑ Knew. Rebecca knew this by the threatening looks and hostile bearing of Esau.
- ↑ Laban. In Haran. You know already that Abraham had lived for a long time in Haran, before he came to Chanaan. Nachor, Abraham's brother, had remained there. His son was Bathuel, and Rebecca and Laban were his grandchildren. It was to this Laban, her brother, that Rebecca now told her son to go.
- ↑ Wrath. Esau’s anger had passed into hatred, and hatred into fury and thirst for his brother’s blood. Rebecca rightly hoped that, when Esau no longer saw his brother, this fury would die away.
- ↑ Set out. How sad Jacob must have felt when he bade farewell to his beloved parents, and went out into an unknown land. Sad at heart, and with his staff in his hand, he started forth, not knowing whether he would ever reach the end of his journey, or ever return home again. At that time Isaac was living at Bersabee, on the southern borders of Chanaan, and from thence to Haran was several hundred miles.
