Genesis 28:1-5

And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram.

The beginning of Jacob’s pilgrimage

I. THE CAUSES WHICH LED HIM. TO UNDERTAKE HIS PILGRIMAGE.

1. His brother’s anger.

2. His mother’s counsel.

II. THE DIVINE PROVISIONS FOR HIS PILGRIMAGE.

1. The peculiar blessing of the chosen seed.

2. The ministry of man in conveying this blessing. (T. H. Leale.)

Lessons

1. Good fathers disdain not the wise and gracious advice of mothers for their children’s good.

2. Good men may change their minds upon God’s convictions for disposal of blessing.

3. Blessing and command go together from God, by His instruments unto His covenant ones.

4. Matches of the true seed with the idolaters are expressly forbidden by God (Genesis 28:1).

5. Fathers have their due power to dispose of children in marriage.

6. It is good for fathers herein to follow the dictates and guidance of God, to dispose children, where the knowledge of God is (Genesis 28:2.) (G. Hughes, B. D.)

Lessons

1. God’s blessing needs to be repeated and confirmed unto souls, to answer temptations, and to prevent unbelief.

2. Obedience yielded to the charge of God foregoing, the blessing shall follow after.

3. God Almighty and All-sufficient is the only fountain of blessing.

4. The issues of good from God Almighty, upon poor creatures, they are blessings indeed.

5. God’s All-sufficiency gives fruitfulness for the increase of His Church (Genesis 28:3).

6. Abraham’s blessing from the Almighty is that which passeth from generation to generation upon the Church.

7. The rest typical as well as spiritual and eternal, is made the inheritance of God’s Israel from His Almightiness.

8. God’s gift to Abraham is the just title of all the seed of promise to that inheritance eternal, typed out in Canaan (Genesis 28:4). (G. Hughes, B. D.)

Lessons

1. Providence makes parents willing to part with dearest children in order to accomplish His will.

2. Providence ordereth children’s hearts in readiness to obey the father’s charge to execute God’s purpose.

3. Providence sometimes sends out creatures naked and helpless the more to glorify Himself (Genesis 28:5). He keeps them while they believe on His promises. (G. Hughes, B. D.)