16. Uncle and nephew make a pact on the mountaintop; what is his intention in staying at the end of the night?

“Faith is grasping what is hoped for, and it is the proof of what has not yet been seen.” [Hebrews 11:1]

The mountain wind howled, Laban rode his horse, his white hair and beard fluttering in the wind, and his black robe fluttering in the wind. Behind him were dozens of clansmen, all armed with weapons, their expressions grave and silent. Jacob gripped the shepherd’s staff tightly, standing on the ground like a mountain rock, staring directly at his uncle and the people behind him.

Rachel, standing behind Jacob, sat atop a camel, his eyes filled with anger like an arrow in a bow, but he held back and bit his lip tightly. Behind Rachel was his only son Joseph, only a few years old, sitting on a donkey led by a servant. Behind them were Leah and his six sons, each holding her own two sons, looking at Laban in panic.

The other servants stood among the cattle and sheep, at a loss. In the silence, Laban spoke first to Jacob: “Are you really going to kidnap my daughters, grandchildren, and herds of cattle and sheep like fugitives?” You sneaked away without even saying goodbye? Do you think I can’t catch up to you? I rode in pursuit. If it weren’t for your father’s god appearing to me in my dream last night warning me not to touch you, I would never have let you off easy. “Jacob replied loudly, “What crime have I committed with you treating me like this?”

I have labored for you for twenty years, whether in fierce winds, blizzards, scorching heat, or bitter cold, I have risked my life to protect your cattle and sheep. For the first fourteen years, I repaid the deposits for your two daughters; in the last six years, I earned the cattle and sheep behind me with my hard work and sweat. You actually cut my wages six times. If it were not for the God of my ancestor and my father who was with me and protecting me, you would have let me return empty-handed. But God saw how you mistreated me, so last night He condemned you in your dream.

A gust of wind swept by, and Laban seemed to shiver. After a moment of contemplation, his expression softened: “Jacob, my son, aren’t you my sister’s flesh and blood? Aren’t your wife and children also my flesh and blood?” Why should we go through this! Come on, let’s make a covenant, let us gather stones and heap them atop this mountain, and be our eternal witness. My clan will not cross this boundary to harm your descendants, and you will not cross this line to harm my descendants.

“Before the stone heap, Jacob offered sacrifices to God and made a covenant with Laban. Both sides sat down together to enjoy the Covenant Banquet. The next day, Laban went back. Jacob’s family headed south, planning to join his brother Esau’s family to avoid the dangerous and fierce royal families from elsewhere.

Jacob guessed that his brother Esau would no longer hold grudges from twenty years ago, so he sent a servant with gifts to meet him first. A few days later, the servant returned and anxiously told Jacob that Esau was quickly coming with four hundred strong men. Jacob heard this, his throat tightening; the panic and helplessness he had felt twenty years ago when he escaped from his brother appeared again.

He was young then, and alone, yet managed to escape over two hundred li in a single day. But where could he escape now? Escape northeast? That’s your uncle’s territory, and we just agreed not to cross it. To the west, they had to cross mountains and canyons—what would happen to the women and children? Should we continue south and forward? Tomorrow, I’m sure to meet my brother. Led four hundred warriors, and even twenty years later, my brother still hasn’t forgiven me!

A family of sixteen, except for himself, was made up of women and children. Including the servants, there were only about a hundred people, occupying only two camps. How could he possibly face off against four hundred warriors? Jacob quickly calculated.

First, he thought of dividing the servants into two teams, each bringing half cattle and sheep, so that his brother would be distracted while attacking. But then he realized he couldn’t just send the lamb into the tiger’s mouth, so he immediately picked out two hundred female goats, twenty male goats, two hundred ewes, twenty rams, thirty nursing camels, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty female donkeys, and ten donkey foals.

Each group was guarded by several servants, totaling nine groups, split into groups and heading ahead and following the way, taking the lead. Let every group of servants say the same thing when they meet Esau: “These are the gifts your servant Jacob is giving to his master Esau, and he himself follows behind.” ”

After receiving such gifts nine times, would the older brother still be as angry as before? Nine batches of gifts and two teams of cattle and sheep set out one after the other. After nightfall, only the sixteen members of Jacob’s family remained. The stars gradually brightened and densely gathered, the waters of the Yabo River flowed joyfully through the night. Jacob looked up at the starry sky, recalling the night in Bethel’s wilderness twenty years ago. The stars were equally fresh, and the heavenly ladder descended from the sky to where he lay.

He couldn’t help but pray from the heart: “Lord, God of my grandfather Abraham and my father Isaac! You instructed me to return to my hometown and relatives, promising to treat me well. I am not worthy of your love and faithfulness. When I crossed the Jordan River before, I carried only a staff, but now I have two groups of men and livestock. Please save me from my brother Esau’s grasp; I fear he will come and kill me and my wife and children. For you have said, ‘I will treat you generously, and your descendants will be as numerous as the sand of the sea, countless.’ “Late at night, Jacob’s family still couldn’t sleep.

After much consideration, Jacob decided he had to cross the Yabo River down the river, but he still felt uncertain. The only thing his brother hated most was himself. If he only saw his wife and children, maybe he wouldn’t have been so harsh on them.

Under the starlight, he sent his wife and children across the Yabo River, leaving himself alone on the north bank. The river flows swiftly; if you listen closely, the cries of your wife and children vanish into the wind. But he hesitated to step into the river. He would rather wait until dawn, rather watch from across the river. If his brother really lost his temper, at least he could use the opportunity for them to cross the river to escape.

Thinking this, someone suddenly grabbed his shoulder from behind. He was so terrified he almost cried out. He jumped up, turned around, and looked closely, his hair standing on end.