The Gate of Heaven by Gilbert Morris

Author:Gilbert Morris [Morris, Gilbert]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FIC042030, FIC042000, FIC026000
ISBN: 9781441262387
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2012-08-17T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 21

After making the agreement with Laban concerning the flocks and the herds, Jacob worked harder than he ever had in his life. He wore himself thin training the other shepherds and moving the individual animals into herds where the breeding would favor his own. It was during this period of time that word came from traders passing through that Esau had become a prosperous herdsman and that he had changed from what he had been as a young man. This encouraged Jacob, for always at the back of his mind was the guilt over how he had treated his brother. As for his wives, both of them were anxious to leave.

The spotted and streaked animals that Jacob separated from the pure white ones prospered beyond belief. As Jacob had told his family, they were a far heartier breed, and the females often produced twins. Jacob tried to be secretive about his intentions, but he had to hire extra herdsmen as the flocks and herds grew. It was inevitable that some of these would pick up on the imminent departure and that Laban and his sons would hear of it.

The result of this was that Laban became more and more belligerent. He made frequent visits, along with his sons, to the flocks, and was stunned to see Jacob’s herds proliferating far more than his own. He tried every way he could think of to go back on his word, but the agreement was recorded, and all he could do was shout, “You’re cheating me!”

Jacob bore all this well, for the plan unfolded in his mind daily. Over a year had gone by when Jacob was suddenly stopped in the midst of his work by the appearance of the Lord God.

He had been breaking in the new shepherds, and now as he made his way wearily home, he stumbled from fatigue. He had missed two full nights’ sleep and had eaten little. He paused by the spring, lay on his stomach, and lowered his head to drink. Rolling over onto his back, he tried to summon the strength to get up. The stars overhead were beginning to glow faintly, and he thought it would be so wonderful simply to lie there, but he knew that Rachel would be waiting up for him.

His eyes were almost closed when suddenly a brightness caused him to open them wider. He looked overhead and saw one star that glowed more than the others. He had a fair knowledge of stars, and for a moment he tried to recognize this one. It did not fit in with any constellation he had memorized, and as he watched, it seemed to grow infinitely bright, sparkling and flashing against the blackness of the sky.

And then the voice came to him audibly:

“Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you. I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.

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