The Story

Primary

Are we interested to know how this journey of Jacob ended? He came safely to Haran and to a well. It was not the fountain at the gate of Haran, but a well in the field, and the flocks were beginning to gather to be watered. The well was covered by a stone, which by their rule was moved when all were gathered. Jacob talked with the shepherds and learned that they were from Haran. He asked about Laban, his mother's brother. They knew him; and Rachel, his daughter, was just then coming with the flock. Jacob at once loved Rachel. He watered her flock and he agreed to work seven years for Laban her father to win Rachel for his wife, and the seven years seemed to Jacob but a few days for the love he had for Rachel. As it proved, Jacob worked in all twenty years for Laban and was given both daughters, Leah and Rachel, as his wives, and very many sheep and cattle

Where had Jacob come from when he spent the night at Bethel? What did he see in a dream at Bethel? What promise did the Lord make to him? What did Jacob promise to do? Where was Jacob going? Why was he going there? Show me on the map the way he went and the city where his mother's family lived.

We remember the beautiful story of Abraham's old servant who was sent to Haran for a wife for Isaac; how he came with the camels to the well outside the town, and Rebekah came to draw water. Jacob also came to a well, not close to the town but in the fields, where the flocks of sheep and goats came to be watered. In that land, toward evening, thousands of sheep and goats come from the pastures to the well. Water is drawn up in leather buckets and poured into the little stone troughs which stand about the well. When the sheep have drunk, the shepherds lead off in different directions and call, and each sheep knows and follows its master's voice. Read how Jacob met Rachel here and loved her. It reminds you of the finding of Rebekah at the fountain of Haran. It is even more like the meeting of Moses with the daughters of Jethro at a well in the land of Midian when he watered the flock for them and one of the shepherd maidens became his wife. (Ex. 2:15-22)

It was probably a rule among the shepherds at Haran to wait till all were there, so that all might share alike. Jacob spoke with the shepherds who were waiting and asked about his mother's family. Already Rachel was coming with the sheep. Jacob asked for Laban the "son" of Nahor and called himself Laban's "brother." The words are not used in the strict sense but in the more general sense of "descendant" and "relative." How was Laban related to Nahor? How as Jacob related to Laban?

You remember how Abraham's servant gave rich presents to Rebekah's family as a price paid for the bride. Jacob also agreed to serve seven years for Rachel, for he loved her. His work was taking care of Laban's flocks and herds. When Jacob had served seven years, Leah was given to him as his wife instead of Rachel. He served another seven years, and Rachel was also given to him. In those days people did not know how holy marriage is, and it was not wrong for them to have more than one wife. And after this Jacob kept on serving Laban (he was with him twenty years in all), and for his pay he kept all the speckled and spotted goats and the black sheep. We shall learn next time how he grew rich in flocks and herds and how at last he took his family and all that he had and left Laban and came back to the land of Canaan. It is said of the first seven years of Jacob's service for Rachel that "they seemed unto him but a few days, for the love he had to her." Time always seems short and work seems easy when our heart is in it and we are working for those we love.

1. Tell me about the people in Haran whom Jacob was going to visit. Who were they and how were they related to Jacob?

2. Where did Jacob meet Rachel? What was she doing? What did Jacob do for her? Compare the meeting with Rachel and the meeting with Rebekah.

3. What sheep are entrusted to our care? What water do they need? Where is the well from which to draw it?

4. How long did Jacob serve for Rachel? When does time seem short and labor light?

Spiritual Study

What is represented by the call of Abraham from the distant country to the Holy Land? The first turning of the affections from natural and worldly things to the Lord and to heavenly things. (A. 1411-1413) What is meant by the charge that Isaac should not marry a daughter of the Canaanites, or go back to the distant country for a wife? It means that the spiritual understanding must not come down from its heavenly light and satisfy itself with evil or merely natural subjects of knowledge. It must find in natural knowledge and life those things which it can lift up and make serviceable to the spiritual life. (A. 3031-3033) And now what is meant by Jacob's going to the distant land and living there many years, and gaining there his family and his wealth? While the affections and thoughts remain in heavenly sunlight one must in action enter into the practical life of the world. It is in this working out of the heavenly spirit on the natural plane that it becomes established and grows strong. Still the heavenly character does not become absorbed and buried in worldly things, but gathers from them strength for heavenly life, as Jacob again returned to the Holy Land with all that he acquired by his years of labor. (A. 3665, 4069)

What is represented by water and a well? Truth or teaching in regard to right and wrong and in regard to what is practicable and wise to do. The Lord's own Word is the most perfect well of spiritual water. Remember the lesson of the Lord's words to the woman of Samaria. (A. 3765)

What is it spiritually to water sheep at a well? Sheep represent gentle, innocent affections, and to water them is to refresh them with true teaching, especially from the Lord's Word. You see this lesson in Moses' watering the flocks in Midian, and the same in Jacob's watering the flocks for Rachel. The stone covering the well is like the letter of the Word which makes it sometimes hard to learn the real spiritual truth within it. Jacob's removing the stone as he came on his journey to the East represents the opening of the lessons of the Word when we come to it with the real desire to live the spiritual life; then we see beneath the letter, and all innocent affections are refreshed and satisfied. In a deeper sense, the Lord is the Jacob who removes the stone and waters the flock. (John 4:12) The Lord did the spiritual work which Jacob represented. (A. 3769, 3798)

If Jacob's coming to the distant country represents the effort to work out the heavenly spirit in the practical life of the world, his wives married in that country represent developments of that good life. Leah the elder, who was tender eyed, represents a first affection for more natural truth and the ways that it teaches. Rachel the younger and more beautiful, who kept the flock, represents a more spiritual affection for deeper truth with its more gentle, perfect ways. We must desire this deeper affection and its more beautiful life, and must work faithfully and patiently for it through as many weeks of labor as may be required. We must not be discouraged if it is not developed at once and if less perfect powers are all that we are capable of exercising for a time. Our love for the heavenly life should make all efforts seem easy. (A. 3820-3824)

The story is a wonderful picture of the Divine patience of the Lord's life, of His hopes deferred, of the perfect love which sustained Him in His labor. (A. 3827)

to next Lesson