mh_parser/vol_split/1 - Genesis/Chapter 28.xml

<div2 id="Gen.xxix" n="xxix" next="Gen.xxx" prev="Gen.xxviii" progress="19.87%" title="Chapter XXVIII">
<pb id="Gen.xxix-Page_169" n="169"/>
<h2 id="Gen.xxix-p0.1">G E N E S I S</h2>
<h3 id="Gen.xxix-p0.2">CHAP. XXVIII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Gen.xxix-p1">We have here, I. Jacob parting with his parents,
to go to Padan-aram; the charge his father gave him (<scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.1-Gen.28.2" parsed="|Gen|28|1|28|2" passage="Ge 28:1,2">ver. 1, 2</scripRef>), the blessing he sent him
away with (<scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.3-Gen.28.4" parsed="|Gen|28|3|28|4" passage="Ge 28:3,4">ver. 3, 4</scripRef>), his
obedience to the orders given him (<scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.5 Bible:Gen.28.10" parsed="|Gen|28|5|0|0;|Gen|28|10|0|0" passage="Ge 28:5,10">ver. 5, 10</scripRef>), and the influence this had
upon Esau, <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.6-Gen.28.9" parsed="|Gen|28|6|28|9" passage="Ge 28:6-9">ver. 6-9</scripRef>. II.
Jacob meeting with God, and his communion with him by the way. And
there, 1. His vision of the ladder, <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.11-Gen.28.12" parsed="|Gen|28|11|28|12" passage="Ge 28:11,12">ver. 11, 12</scripRef>. 2. The gracious promises God
made him, <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.13-Gen.28.15" parsed="|Gen|28|13|28|15" passage="Ge 28:13-15">ver. 13-15</scripRef>. 3.
The impression this made upon him, <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.16-Gen.28.19" parsed="|Gen|28|16|28|19" passage="Ge 28:16-19">ver. 16-19</scripRef>. 4. The vow he made to God, up
on this occasion, <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.20-Gen.28.22" parsed="|Gen|28|20|28|22" passage="Ge 28:20-22">ver.
20</scripRef>, &amp;c.</p>
<scripCom id="Gen.xxix-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28" parsed="|Gen|28|0|0|0" passage="Ge 28" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Gen.xxix-p1.10" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.1-Gen.28.5" parsed="|Gen|28|1|28|5" passage="Ge 28:1-5" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.28.1-Gen.28.5">
<h4 id="Gen.xxix-p1.11">Jacob Dismissed with a
Blessing. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xxix-p1.12">b. c.</span> 1760.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xxix-p2">1 And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and
charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the
daughters of Canaan.   2 Arise, go to Padan-aram, to the house
of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of
the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.   3 And God
Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee,
that thou mayest be a multitude of people;   4 And give thee
the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that
thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God
gave unto Abraham.   5 And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went
to Padan-aram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of
Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxix-p3">Jacob had no sooner obtained the blessing
than immediately he was forced to flee from his country; and, as it
if were not enough that he was a stranger and sojourner there, he
must go to be more so, and no better than an exile, in another
country. Now <i>Jacob fled into Syria,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Hos.12.12" parsed="|Hos|12|12|0|0" passage="Ho 12:12">Hos. xii. 12</scripRef>. He was blessed with plenty of
corn and wine, and yet he went away poor, was blessed with
government, and yet went out to service, a hard service. This was,
1. Perhaps to correct him for his dealing fraudulently with his
father. The blessing shall be confirmed to him, and yet he shall
smart for the indirect course he took to obtain it. While there is
such an alloy as there is of sin in our duties, we must expect an
alloy of trouble in our comforts. However, 2. It was to teach us
that those who inherit the blessing must expect persecution; those
who have peace in Christ shall have tribulation in the world,
<scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:John.16.33" parsed="|John|16|33|0|0" passage="Joh 16:33">John xvi. 33</scripRef>. Being told
of this before, we must not think it strange, and, being assured of
a recompence hereafter, we must not think it hard. We may observe,
likewise, that God's providences often seem to contradict his
promises, and to go cross to them; and yet, when the mystery of God
shall be finished, we shall see that all was for the best, and that
cross providences did but render the promises and the
accomplishment of them the more illustrious. Now Jacob is here
dismissed by his father,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxix-p4">I. With a solemn charge: <i>He blessed him,
and charged him,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p4.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.1-Gen.28.2" parsed="|Gen|28|1|28|2" passage="Ge 28:1,2"><i>v.</i> 1,
2</scripRef>. Note, Those that have the blessing must keep the
charge annexed to it, and not think to separate what God has
joined. The charge is like that in <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p4.2" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.6.14" parsed="|2Cor|6|14|0|0" passage="2Co 6:14">2
Cor. vi. 14</scripRef>, <i>Be not unequally yoked with
unbelievers;</i> and all that inherit the promises of the remission
of sins, and the gift of the Holy Ghost, must keep this charge,
which follows those promises, <i>Save yourselves from this untoward
generation,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p4.3" osisRef="Bible:Acts.2.38-Acts.2.40" parsed="|Acts|2|38|2|40" passage="Ac 2:38-40">Acts ii.
38-40</scripRef>. Those that are entitled to peculiar favours must
be a peculiar people. If Jacob be an heir of promise, he must
<i>not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;</i> those that
profess religion should not marry those that are irreligious.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxix-p5">II. With a solemn blessing, <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p5.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.3-Gen.28.4" parsed="|Gen|28|3|28|4" passage="Ge 28:3,4"><i>v.</i> 3, 4</scripRef>. He had before
blessed him unwittingly; now he does it designedly, for the greater
encouragement of Jacob in that melancholy condition to which he was
now removing. This blessing is more express and full than the
former; it is an entail of the blessing of Abraham, that blessing
which was poured on the head of Abraham like the anointing oil,
thence to run down to his chosen seed, as the skirts of his
garments. It is a gospel blessing, the blessing of
church-privileges, that is the blessing of Abraham, which upon the
Gentiles through faith, <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p5.2" osisRef="Bible:Gal.3.14" parsed="|Gal|3|14|0|0" passage="Ga 3:14">Gal. iii.
14</scripRef>. It is a blessing from God Almighty, by which name
God appeared to the patriarchs, <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p5.3" osisRef="Bible:Exod.6.3" parsed="|Exod|6|3|0|0" passage="Ex 6:3">Exod.
vi. 3</scripRef>. Those are blessed indeed whom God Almighty
blesses; for he commands and effects the blessing. Two great
promises Abraham was blessed with, and Isaac here entails them both
upon Jacob.</p>
<pb id="Gen.xxix-Page_170" n="170"/>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxix-p6">1. The promise of heirs: <i>God make thee
fruitful, and multiply thee,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.3" parsed="|Gen|28|3|0|0" passage="Ge 28:3"><i>v.</i> 3</scripRef>. (1.) Through his loins should
descend from Abraham that people who should be numerous as the
stars of heaven, and the sand of the sea, and who should increase
more than the rest of the nations, so as to be <i>an assembly of
people,</i> as the margin reads it. And never was such a multitude
of people so often gathered into one assembly as the tribes of
Israel were in the wilderness, and afterwards. (2.) Through his
loins should descend from Abraham that person in whom all the
families of the earth should be blessed, and to whom the gathering
of the people should be. Jacob had in him a multitude of people
indeed, for all things in heaven and earth are united in Christ
(<scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:Eph.1.10" parsed="|Eph|1|10|0|0" passage="Eph 1:10">Eph. i. 10</scripRef>), all centre in
him, that corn of wheat, which falling to the ground, produced much
fruit, <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:John.12.24" parsed="|John|12|24|0|0" passage="Joh 12:24">John 12. 24</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxix-p7">2. The promise of an inheritance for those
heirs: <i>That thou mayest inherit the land of thy sojournings,</i>
<scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.4" parsed="|Gen|28|4|0|0" passage="Ge 28:4"><i>v.</i> 4</scripRef>. Canaan was
hereby entailed upon the seed of Jacob, exclusive of the seed of
Esau. Isaac was now sending Jacob away into a distant country, to
settle there for some time; and, lest this should look like
disinheriting him, he here confirms the settlement of it upon him,
that he might be assured that the discontinuance of his possession
should be no defeasance of his right. Observe, He is here told that
he should inherit the land wherein he sojourned. Those that are
sojourners now shall be heirs for ever: and, even now, those do
most inherit the earth (though they do not inherit most of it) that
are most like strangers in it. Those have the best enjoyment of
present things that sit most loose to them. This promise looks as
high as heaven, of which Canaan was a type. This was the better
country, which Jacob, with the other patriarchs, had in his eye,
when he confessed himself a stranger and pilgrim upon the earth,
<scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:Heb.11.13" parsed="|Heb|11|13|0|0" passage="Heb 11:13">Heb. xi. 13</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxix-p8">Jacob, having taken leave of his father,
was hastened away with all speed, lest his brother should find an
opportunity to do him a mischief, and away he went to Padan-aram,
<scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.5" parsed="|Gen|28|5|0|0" passage="Ge 28:5"><i>v.</i> 5</scripRef>. How unlike was
his taking a wife thence to his father's! Isaac had servants and
camels sent to fetch his; Jacob must go himself, go alone, and go
afoot, to fetch his: he must go too in a fright from his father's
house, not knowing when he might return. Note, If God, in his
providence, disable us, we must be content, though we cannot keep
up the state and grandeur of our ancestors. We should be more in
care to maintain their piety than to maintain their dignity, and to
be as good as they were than to be as great. Rebekah is here called
<i>Jacob's and Esau's mother.</i> Jacob is named first, not only
because he had always been his mother's darling, but because he was
now make his father's heir, and Esau was, in this sense, set aside.
Note, The time will come when piety will have precedency, whatever
it has now.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Gen.xxix-p8.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.6-Gen.28.9" parsed="|Gen|28|6|28|9" passage="Ge 28:6-9" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.28.6-Gen.28.9">
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xxix-p9">6 When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob,
and sent him away to Padan-aram, to take him a wife from thence;
and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt
not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan;   7 And that Jacob
obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padan-aram;
  8 And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not
Isaac his father;   9 Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took
unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael
Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxix-p10">This passage concerning Esau comes in in
the midst of Jacob's story, either, 1. To show the influence of a
good example. Esau, though the greater man, now begins to think
Jacob the better man, and disdains not to take him for his pattern
in this particular instance of marrying with a daughter of Abraham.
The elder children should give to the younger an example of
tractableness and obedience; it is bad if they do not: but it is
some alleviation if they take the example of it from them, as Esau
here did from Jacob. Or, 2. To show the folly of an after-wit. Esau
did well, but he did it when it was too late, He <i>saw that the
daughters of Canaan pleased not his father,</i> and he might have
seen that long ago if he had consulted his father's judgment as
much as he did his palate. And how did he now mend the matter? Why,
truly, so as to make bad worse. (1.) He married a daughter of
Ishmael, the son of the bond-woman, who was cast out, and was not
to inherit with Isaac and his seed, thus joining with a family
which God had rejected, and seeking to strengthen his own
pretensions by the aid of another pretender. (2.) He took a third
wife, while, for aught that appears, his other two were neither
dead nor divorced. (3.) He did it only to please his father, not to
please God. Now that Jacob was sent into a far country Esau would
be all in all at home, and he hoped so to humour his father as to
prevail with him to make a new will, and entail the promise upon
him, revoking the settlement lately made upon Jacob. And thus, [1.]
He was wise when it was too late, like Israel that would venture
when the decree had gone forth against them (<scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.14.40" parsed="|Num|14|40|0|0" passage="Nu 14:40">Num. xiv. 40</scripRef>), and the foolish virgins,
<scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Matt.25.11" parsed="|Matt|25|11|0|0" passage="Mt 25:11">Matt. xxv. 11</scripRef>. [2.] He
rested in a partial reformation, and thought, by pleasing his
parents in one thing, to atone for all his other miscarriages. It
is not said that when he saw how obedient Jacob was, and how
willing to please his parents, he repented of his malicious design
against him: no, it appeared afterwards that he persisted in that,
and

<pb id="Gen.xxix-Page_171" n="171"/>

retained his malice. Note, Carnal hearts
are apt to think themselves as good as they should be, because
perhaps, in some one particular instance, they are not so bad as
they have been. Thus Micah retains his idols, but thinks himself
happy in having a Levite to be his priest, <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Judg.17.13" parsed="|Judg|17|13|0|0" passage="Jdg 17:13">Judg. xvii. 13</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Gen.xxix-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.10-Gen.28.15" parsed="|Gen|28|10|28|15" passage="Ge 28:10-15" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.28.10-Gen.28.15">
<h4 id="Gen.xxix-p10.5">Jacob's Vision at Bethel. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xxix-p10.6">b. c.</span> 1760.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xxix-p11">10 And Jacob went out from Beer-sheba, and went
toward Haran.   11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and
tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of
the stones of that place, and put <i>them for</i> his pillows, and
lay down in that place to sleep.   12 And he dreamed, and
behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to
heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on
it.   13 And, behold, the <span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xxix-p11.1">Lord</span>
stood above it, and said, I <i>am</i> the <span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xxix-p11.2">Lord</span> God of Abraham thy father, and the God of
Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to
thy seed;   14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth,
and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to
the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all
the families of the earth be blessed.   15 And, behold, I
<i>am</i> with thee, and will keep thee in all <i>places</i>
whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I
will not leave thee, until I have done <i>that</i> which I have
spoken to thee of.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxix-p12">We have here Jacob upon his journey towards
Syria, in a very desolate condition, like one that was sent to seek
his fortune; but we find that, though he was alone, yet he was not
alone, for <i>the Father was with him,</i> <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p12.1" osisRef="Bible:John.16.32" parsed="|John|16|32|0|0" passage="Joh 16:32">John xvi. 32</scripRef>. If what is here recorded
happened (as it should seem it did) the first night, he had made a
long day's journey from Beersheba to Bethel, above forty miles.
Providence brought him to a convenient place, probably shaded with
trees, to rest himself in that night; and there he had,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxix-p13">I. A hard lodging (<scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.11" parsed="|Gen|28|11|0|0" passage="Ge 28:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>), the <i>stones for his
pillows,</i> and the heavens for his canopy and curtains. As the
usage then was, perhaps this was not so bad as it seems now to us;
but we should think, 1. He lay very cold, the cold ground for his
bed, and, which one would suppose made the matter worse, a cold
stone for his pillow, and in the cold air. 2. Very uneasy. If his
bones were sore with his day's journey, his night's rest would but
make them sorer. 3. Very much exposed. He forgot that he was
fleeing for his life; or had his brother, in his rage, pursued, or
sent a murderer after him, here he lay ready to be sacrificed, and
destitute of shelter and defence. We cannot think it was by reason
of his poverty that he was so ill accommodated, but, (1.) It was
owing to the plainness and simplicity of those times, when men did
not take so much state, and consult their ease so much, as in these
later times of softness and effeminacy. (2.) Jacob had been
particularly used to hardships, as a plain man dwelling in tents;
and, designing now to go to service, he was the more willing to
inure himself to them; and, as it proved, it was well, <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.31.40" parsed="|Gen|31|40|0|0" passage="Ge 31:40"><i>ch.</i> xxxi. 40</scripRef>. (3.) His comfort
in the divine blessing, and his confidence in the divine
protection, made him easy, even when he lay thus exposed; being
sure that his God made him to dwell in safety, he could lie down
and sleep upon a stone.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxix-p14">II. In his hard lodging he had a pleasant
dream. Any Israelite indeed would be willing to take up with
Jacob's pillow, provided he might but have Jacob's dream. Then, and
there, he <i>heard the words of God, and saw the visions of the
Almighty.</i> It was the best night's sleep he ever had in his
life. Note, God's time to visit his people with his comforts is
when they are most destitute of other comforts, and other
comforters; when afflictions in the way of duty (as these were) do
abound, then shall consolations so much the more abound. Now
observe here,</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxix-p15">1. The encouraging vision Jacob saw,
<scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.12" parsed="|Gen|28|12|0|0" passage="Ge 28:12"><i>v.</i> 12</scripRef>. He saw a
ladder which reached from earth to heaven, the angels ascending and
descending upon it, and God himself at the head of it. Now this
represents the two things that are very comfortable to good people
at all times, and in all conditions:—(1.) The providence of God,
by which there is a constant correspondence kept up between heaven
and earth. The counsels of heaven are executed on earth, and the
actions and affairs of this earth are all known in heaven are
executed on earth, and the actions and affairs of this earth are
all known in heaven and judged there. Providence does its work
gradually, and by steps. Angels are employed as ministering
spirits, to serve all the purposes and designs of Providence, and
the wisdom of God is at the upper end of the ladder, directing all
the motions of second causes to the glory of the first Cause. The
angels are active spirits, continually ascending and descending;
they rest not, day nor night, from service, according to the posts
assigned them. They ascend, to give account of what they have done,
and to receive orders; and then descend, to execute the orders they
have received. Thus we should always abound in the work of the
Lord, that we may do it as the angels do it, <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.103.20-Ps.103.21" parsed="|Ps|103|20|103|21" passage="Ps 103:20,21">Ps. ciii. 20, 21</scripRef>. This vision gave very
seasonable comfort to Jacob, letting him know that he had both a
good guide and a good guard, in his going out and coming in,—that,
though he was made to wander from his father's house, yet still he
was the care of a kind Providence, and the charge of the holy

<pb id="Gen.xxix-Page_172" n="172"/>

angels. This is comfort enough, though we
should not admit the notion which some have, that the tutelar
angels of Canaan were ascending, having guarded Jacob out of their
land, and the angels of Syria descending to take him into their
custody. Jacob was now the type and representative of the whole
church, with the guardianship of which the angels are entrusted.
(2.) The mediation of Christ. He is this ladder, the foot on earth
in his human nature, the top in heaven in his divine nature: or the
former in his humiliation, the latter in his exaltation. All the
intercourse between heaven and earth, since the fall, is by this
ladder. Christ is the way; all God's favours come to us, and all
our services go to him, by Christ. If God dwell with us, and we
with him, it is by Christ. We have no way of getting to heaven, but
by this ladder; if we climb up any other way we are thieves and
robbers. To this vision our Saviour alludes when he speaks of the
angels of God <i>ascending and descending upon the son of man</i>
(<scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p15.3" osisRef="Bible:John.1.51" parsed="|John|1|51|0|0" passage="Joh 1:51">John i. 51</scripRef>); for the kind
offices the angels do us, and the benefits we receive by their
ministration, are all owing to Christ, who has reconciled things on
earth and things in heaven (<scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p15.4" osisRef="Bible:Col.1.20" parsed="|Col|1|20|0|0" passage="Col 1:20">Col. i.
20</scripRef>), and made them all meet in himself, <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p15.5" osisRef="Bible:Eph.1.10" parsed="|Eph|1|10|0|0" passage="Eph 1:10">Eph. i. 10</scripRef>.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxix-p16">2. The encouraging words Jacob heard. God
now brought him into the wilderness, and spoke comfortably to him,
spoke from the head of the ladder; for all the glad tidings we
receive from heaven come through Jesus Christ.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxix-p17">(1.) The former promises made to his father
were repeated and ratified to him, <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.13-Gen.28.14" parsed="|Gen|28|13|28|14" passage="Ge 28:13,14"><i>v.</i> 13, 14</scripRef>. In general, God
intimated to him that he would be the same to him that he had been
to Abraham and Isaac. Those that tread in the steps of their godly
parents are interested in their covenant and entitled to their
privileges. Particularly, [1.] The land of Canaan is settled upon
him, <i>the land whereon thou liest;</i> as if by his lying so
contentedly upon the bare ground he had taken livery and seisin of
the whole land. [2.] It is promised him that his posterity should
multiply exceedingly as the dust of the earth—that, though he
seemed now to be plucked off as a withered branch, yet he should
become a flourishing tree, that should send out his boughs unto the
sea. These were the blessings with which his father had blessed him
(<scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p17.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.3-Gen.28.4" parsed="|Gen|28|3|28|4" passage="Ge 28:3,4"><i>v.</i> 3, 4</scripRef>), and God
here said Amen to them, that he might have strong consolation. [3.]
It is added that the Messiah should come from his loins, in whom
all the families of the earth should be blessed. Christ is the
great blessing of the world. All that are blessed, whatever family
they are of, are blessed in him, and none of any family are
excluded from blessedness in him, but those that exclude
themselves.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxix-p18">(2.) Fresh promises were made him,
accommodated to his present condition, <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.15" parsed="|Gen|28|15|0|0" passage="Ge 28:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>. [1.] Jacob was apprehensive of
danger from his brother Esau; but God promises to keep him. Note,
Those are safe whom God protects, whoever pursues them. [2.] He had
now a long journey before him, had to travel alone, in an unknown
road, to an unknown country; but, <i>behold, I am with thee,</i>
says God. Note, Wherever we are, we are safe, and may be easy, if
we have God's favourable presence with us. [3.] He knew not, but
God foresaw, what hardships he should meet with in his uncle's
service, and therefore promises to preserve him in all places.
Note, God knows how to give his people graces and comforts
accommodated to the events that shall be, as well as to those that
are. [4.] He was now going as an exile into a place far distant,
but God promises him to bring him back again to this land. Note, He
that preserves his people's going out will also take care of their
coming in, <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Ps.121.8" parsed="|Ps|121|8|0|0" passage="Ps 121:8">Ps. cxxi. 8</scripRef>.
[5.] He seemed to be forsaken of all his friends, but God here
gives him this assurance, <i>I will not leave thee.</i> Note, Whom
God loves he never leaves. This promise is sure to all the seed,
<scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:Heb.13.5" parsed="|Heb|13|5|0|0" passage="Heb 13:5">Heb. xiii. 5</scripRef>. [6.]
Providences seemed to contradict the promises; he is therefore
assured of the performance of them in their season: All shall <i>be
done that I have spoken to thee of.</i> Note, Saying and doing are
not two things with God, whatever they are with us.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Gen.xxix-p18.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.16-Gen.28.22" parsed="|Gen|28|16|28|22" passage="Ge 28:16-22" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Gen.28.16-Gen.28.22">
<h4 id="Gen.xxix-p18.5">Jacob's Vow. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xxix-p18.6">b. c.</span> 1760.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Gen.xxix-p19">16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he
said, Surely the <span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xxix-p19.1">Lord</span> is in this
place; and I knew <i>it</i> not.   17 And he was afraid, and
said, How dreadful <i>is</i> this place! this <i>is</i> none other
but the house of God, and this <i>is</i> the gate of heaven.  
18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that
he had put <i>for</i> his pillows, and set it up <i>for</i> a
pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.   19 And he called
the name of that place Beth-el: but the name of that city <i>was
called</i> Luz at the first.   20 And Jacob vowed a vow,
saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I
go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,   21
So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the
<span class="smallcaps" id="Gen.xxix-p19.2">Lord</span> be my God:   22 And this
stone, which I have set <i>for</i> a pillar, shall be God's house:
and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth
unto thee.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxix-p20">God manifested himself and his favour to
Jacob when he was asleep and purely passive; for the spirit, like
the wind, blows when and where he listeth, and God's grace, like
the dew, tarrieth not for the sons of men, <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p20.1" osisRef="Bible:Mic.5.7" parsed="|Mic|5|7|0|0" passage="Mic 5:7">Mic. v. 7</scripRef>. But Jacob applied himself

<pb id="Gen.xxix-Page_173" n="173"/>

to the improvement of the visit God had made him
when he was awake; and we may well think he awaked, as the prophet
did (<scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p20.2" osisRef="Bible:Jer.31.26" parsed="|Jer|31|26|0|0" passage="Jer 31:26">Jer. xxxi. 26</scripRef>), and
behold his sleep was sweet to him. Here is much of Jacob's devotion
on this occasion.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxix-p21">I. He expressed a great surprise at the
tokens he had of God's special presence with him in that place:
<i>Surely the Lord is in this place and I knew it not,</i>
<scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p21.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.16" parsed="|Gen|28|16|0|0" passage="Ge 28:16"><i>v.</i> 16</scripRef>. Note, 1.
God's manifestations of himself to his people carry their own
evidence along with them. God can give undeniable demonstrations of
his presence, such as give abundant satisfaction to the souls of
the faithful that God is with them of a truth, satisfaction not
communicable to others, but convincing to themselves. 2. We
sometimes meet with God where we little thought of meeting with
him. He is where we did not think he had been, is found where we
asked not for him. No place excludes divine visits (<scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p21.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.16.13" parsed="|Gen|16|13|0|0" passage="Ge 16:13"><i>ch.</i> xvi. 13</scripRef>, <i>here
also</i>); wherever we are, in the city or in the desert, in the
house or in the field, in the shop or in the street, we may keep up
our intercourse with Heaven if it be not our own fault.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxix-p22">II. It struck an awe upon him (<scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p22.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.17" parsed="|Gen|28|17|0|0" passage="Ge 28:17"><i>v.</i> 17</scripRef>): <i>He was afraid;</i>
so far was he from being puffed up, and exalted above measure, with
the abundance of the revelations (<scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p22.2" osisRef="Bible:2Cor.12.7" parsed="|2Cor|12|7|0|0" passage="2Co 12:7">2
Cor. xii. 7</scripRef>), that he was afraid. Note, The more we see
of God the more cause we see for holy trembling and blushing before
him. Those to whom God is pleased to manifest himself are thereby
laid, and kept, very low in their own eyes, and see cause to fear
even the Lord and his goodness, <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p22.3" osisRef="Bible:Hos.3.5" parsed="|Hos|3|5|0|0" passage="Ho 3:5">Hos.
iii. 5</scripRef>. He said, <i>How dreadful is this place!</i> that
is, "The appearance of God in this place is never to be thought of,
but with a holy awe and reverence. I shall have a respect for this
place, and remember it by this token, as long as I live:" not that
he thought the place itself any nearer the divine visions than
other places; but what he saw there at this time was, as it were,
<i>the house of God,</i> the residence of the divine Majesty, and
<i>the gate of heaven,</i> that is, the general rendezvous of the
inhabitants of the upper world, as the meetings of a city were in
their gates; or the angels ascending and descending were like
travellers passing and re-passing through the gates of a city.
Note, 1. God is in a special manner present where his grace is
revealed and where his covenants are published and sealed, as of
old by the ministry of angels, so now by instituted ordinances,
<scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p22.4" osisRef="Bible:Matt.28.20" parsed="|Matt|28|20|0|0" passage="Mt 28:20">Matt. xxviii. 20</scripRef>. 2. Where
God meets us with his special presence we ought to meet him with
the most humble reverence, remembering his justice and holiness,
and our own meanness and vileness.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxix-p23">III. He took care to preserve the memorial
of it two ways: 1. He set up the stone for a pillar (<scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p23.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.18" parsed="|Gen|28|18|0|0" passage="Ge 28:18"><i>v.</i> 18</scripRef>); not as if he thought
the visions of his head were any way owing to the stone on which it
lay, but thus he would mark the place against he came back, and
erect a lasting monument of God's favour to him, and because he had
not time now to build an altar here, as Abraham did in the places
where God appeared to him, <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p23.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.12.7" parsed="|Gen|12|7|0|0" passage="Ge 12:7"><i>ch.</i>
xii. 7</scripRef>. He therefore <i>poured oil on the top of this
stone,</i> which probably was the ceremony then used in dedicating
their altars, as an earnest of his building an altar when he should
have conveniences for it, as afterwards he did, in gratitude to God
for this vision, <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p23.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.35.7" parsed="|Gen|35|7|0|0" passage="Ge 35:7"><i>ch.</i> xxxv.
7</scripRef>. Note, Grants of mercy call for returns of duty, and
the sweet communion we have with God ought ever to be remembered.
2. He gave a new name to the place, <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p23.4" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.19" parsed="|Gen|28|19|0|0" passage="Ge 28:19"><i>v.</i> 19</scripRef>. It had been called <i>Luz, an
almond-tree;</i> but he will have it henceforward called
<i>Beth-el, the house of God.</i> This gracious appearance of God
to him put a greater honour upon it, and made it more remarkable,
than all the almond-trees that flourished there. This is that
Beth-el where, long after, it is said, <i>God found Jacob, and
there</i> (in what he said to him) <i>he spoke with us,</i>
<scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p23.5" osisRef="Bible:Hos.12.4" parsed="|Hos|12|4|0|0" passage="Ho 12:4">Hos. xii. 4</scripRef>. In process of
time, this <i>Beth-el, the house of God,</i> became <i>Beth-aven, a
house of vanity</i> and iniquity, when Jeroboam set up one of his
calves there.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Gen.xxix-p24">IV. He made a solemn vow upon this
occasion, <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p24.1" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.20-Gen.28.22" parsed="|Gen|28|20|28|22" passage="Ge 28:20-22"><i>v.</i>
20-22</scripRef>. By religious vows we give glory to God, own our
dependence upon him, and lay a bond upon our own souls to engage
and quicken our obedience to him. Jacob was now in fear and
distress; and it is seasonable to make vows in times of trouble, or
when we are in pursuit of any special mercy, <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p24.2" osisRef="Bible:Jonah.1.16 Bible:Ps.66.13-Ps.66.14 Bible:1Sam.1.11 Bible:Num.21.1-Num.21.3" parsed="|Jonah|1|16|0|0;|Ps|66|13|66|14;|1Sam|1|11|0|0;|Num|21|1|21|3" passage="Jon 1:16,Ps 66:13,14,1Sa 1:11,Nu 21:1-3">Jon. i. 16; Ps. lxvi. 13,
14; 1 Sam. i. 11; Num. xxi. 1-3</scripRef>. Jacob had now had a
gracious visit from heaven. God had renewed his covenant with him,
and the covenant is mutual. When God ratifies his promises to us,
it is proper for us to repeat our promises to him. Now in this vow
observe, 1. Jacob's faith. God had said (<scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p24.3" osisRef="Bible:Gen.28.15" parsed="|Gen|28|15|0|0" passage="Ge 28:15"><i>v.</i> 15</scripRef>), <i>I am with thee, and will
keep thee.</i> Jacob takes hold of this, and infers, "<i>Seeing God
will be with me, and will keep me,</i> as he hath said, and (which
is implied in that promise) will provide comfortably for me,—and
seeing he has promised to <i>bring me again to this land,</i> that
is, <i>to the house of my father,</i> whom I hope to find alive at
my return <i>in peace</i>" (so unlike was he to Esau who longed for
the days of mourning for his father),—"I depend upon it." Note,
God's promises are to be the guide and measure of our desires and
expectations. 2. Jacob's modesty and great moderation in his
desires. He will cheerfully content himself with bread to eat, and
raiment to put on; and, though God's promise had now made him heir
to a very great estate, yet he indents not for soft clothing and
dainty meat. Agur's wish is his, <i>Feed me with food convenient
for me;</i> and see <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p24.4" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.6.8" parsed="|1Tim|6|8|0|0" passage="1Ti 6:8">1 Tim. vi.
8</scripRef>. Nature is content with a little, and grace with less.
Those that have most have, in effect, no more for themselves than
food and raiment; of the overplus they have only either the keeping
or the giving, not the enjoyment: if God give us more, we are bound
to be thankful, and to use it for him; if he give us but this, we
are bound to be content, and cheerfully to enjoy him in it. 3.
Jacob's piety, and his regard to God, which appear here, (1.) In
what he desired, that God would be with him and keep him. Note, We
need desire no more to make us easy and happy, wherever we are,
than to have God's presence with us and to be under his protection.
It is comfortable, in a journey, to have a guide in an unknown way,
a guard in a dangerous way, to be well carried, well provided for,
and to have good company in any way; and those that have God with
them have all this in the best manner. (2.) In what he designed.
His resolution is, [1.] In general, to cleave to the Lord, as his
God in covenant: <i>Then shall the Lord be my God.</i> Not as if he
would disown him and cast him off if he should want food and
raiment; no, though he slay us, we must cleave to him; but "then I
will rejoice in him as my God; then I will more strongly engage
myself to abide with him." Note, Every mercy we receive from God
should be improved as an additional obligation upon us to walk
closely with him as our God. [2.] In particular, that he would
perform some special acts of devotion, in token of his gratitude.
<i>First,</i> "This pillar shall keep possession here till I come
back in peace, and then it shall be God's house," that is, "an
altar shall be erected here to the honour of God." <i>Secondly,</i>
"The house of god shall not be unfurnished, nor his altar without a
sacrifice: <i>Of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the
tenth unto thee,</i> to be spent either upon God's altars or upon
his poor," both which are his receivers in the world. Probably it
was according to some general instructions received from heaven
that Abraham and Jacob offered the tenth of their acquisitions to
God. Note, 1. God must be honoured with our estates, and must have
his dues out of them. When we receive more than ordinary mercy from
God we should study to give some signal instances of gratitude to
him. 2. The tenth is a very fit proportion to be devoted to God and
employed for him, though, as circumstances vary, it may be more or
less, as God prospers us, <scripRef id="Gen.xxix-p24.5" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.16.2 Bible:2Cor.9.7" parsed="|1Cor|16|2|0|0;|2Cor|9|7|0|0" passage="1Co 16:2,2Co 9:7">1
Cor. xvi. 2; 2 Cor. ix. 7</scripRef>.</p>
</div></div2>