Page 84 - Bible History

GOD'S GREAT FAVORS TO JACOB 57
shall be as the dust of the earth, and in thee and them all the tribes of the earth shall be blessed.'' When Jacob awoke, he ex aimed, "Indeed the Lord is in this place and I knew it not. How holy is this place ! This is no other but the house of God, and the gate of Heaven.''
In memory of his dream, Jacob poured oil on the stone on which he had slept. He called the place Bethel, meaning House of God.
2. THE MARRIAGE OF JACOB AND RACHEL
When Jacob arrived at Haran, he met some shep­ J herds near a well outside the city, and inquired of R them whether they knew a certain Laban. While he
was talking to them, Rachel, the daughter of Laban, came to the well to give water to her father's sheep.
The shepherds told Jacob who she was. He helped her to water her sheep and informed her that he was her cousin. Rachel hastened to her father and told him the news of Jacob's coming.
Laban went at o e to meet Jacob and to welcome him to his house. For a month Jacob was Laban's guest. After that, he began to work for Laban, taking care of his sheep. Laban promised him that if he worked for him seven years, he could have Rachel for his wife. Jacob agreed to these terms, but at the end of seven years, Laban did not keep his word. He forced Jacob to take his elder daughter Lia instead. Jacob reproached Laban for his deceit. He was greatly in love with Rachel and pleaded to be allowed to marry her. Laban nally promised to give him