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 208

71ie

Book

of Genesis

would lie bear this deception? Would he seek revenge as Esau had done, or would he regard it as merited, and sub-

The

mit without further question or strife?

story tells that

Jacob chose the latter course, and implies that he was conscious that in this, as in everything, (jod was with him, and that this was a part of God's discipline.

Then Rachel

follows

also,

Thus passed of

account

of

Jacob's

marriage

with

and of the children which were born to him. the first two seven-year periods in the service

With

Laban.

the

the

third

period

new moment

a

in

the

had learned to rely upon God's promise to be with hinj, and to But these see God's hand in everything which befell him. last years of satisfied desire and family happiness had tended to reawaken the old dormant Jacob, to make him once again

drama

of

Jacob's

self-centered,

life

In

begins.

self-reliant

his

distress

and self-seeking.

As

Jacob

his

family

grew, the conviction became stronger that he must himself Material begin to provide for them and their future. thoughts and desires once more of only one

way

to satisfy

filled his

them.

mind, and he knew

Laban had deceived him

But now he whereby Jacob It was the flocks. of portion secured for himself an undue a trick, the secret of which seemingly was known only to But it was a him, and therefore it could not be detected. True, Laban met this deception deception none the less. with faithlessness, and changed Jacob's wages repeatedly. Yet Jacob, it is implied, knew always how to gain the advantage. Thus his wealth increased exceedingly, until Laban's sons began to eye him enviously and suspiciously, and in

regard to Leah, yet Jacob had held his peace. in turn practiced a trick

it

upon

his uncle,

seemed that they could not abide together much longer. to return to his home land and

Then God's command came to his father's house.

But how does Jacob return? He might have expected, normal course of things, to depart honorably and in

in the