Page:A Jewish Interpretation of the Book of Genesis (Morgenstern, 1919, jewishinterpreta00morg).pdf/267

Rh 249

Jacob and Laban

Lesson XVIII

JACOB AND LABAN (Genesis

XXIX-XXXII,

Return unto the land of thy fathers, and be

(Genesis

with thee.

me And renew

XXXI,

a clean heart,

Create

O

to thy kindred



and

1

will

3.)

God;

a steadfast spirit within me.

Read Proverbs

2)

(Psalm LI,

12.)

III, 1-7.

At dawn Jacob rose, a new man. Once more he set out upon his long, soHtary journey. Yet how different was this from that awful yesterday. Then he felt alone and terrorwas stricken, forsaken both of men and God; today God with him.

Bravely, cheerfully, even happily he journeyed

and at last he came to Haran, his beloved mother's birthIt seemed to place, where his uncle Laban was dwelling. but a journeyed had he that told, rabbis wise the him, so

on,

always when we know that God is with then days seem mofills our souls Then us. obstacle too great. no hard, too is task worthy ments, and no brave son Judah his to Mattathia of In the inspiring words

So

single day.

it

is

true happiness



Maccabee, "With God everything is possible". The change which had come over Jacob, the rabbis taught, was manifest in his words to the very first persons he met upon his journey, the shepherds of Haran. For he greeted

them by the ness that

all

significant

men

of unselfishness.

and defrauded

his

title,

''My brethren".

are brothers, they taught,

So

it

own

was with Jacob. brother, nor felt

The is

He

conscious-

the beginning

had deceived himself in any way \n