February 18

FEBRUARY 18.—“And Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake.”—Genesis 30:27.

LABAN knew and acknowledged the true God, yet had idols in his family. His character was a compound of selfishness, cunning, meanness, and cruelty. He even turned his daughters into articles of traffic; and inveigled his son-in-law into discord and wretchedness, polygamy and incest. All this is perfectly credible; for he was covetous; and “the love of money is the root of all evil.” He is here addressing Jacob, who after serving him with diligence and fidelity for many years, and meeting only with injury and insult, resolved to leave him. The resolution was not the effect of feeling only, but of divine command; for the Lord “had said unto him, return unto thy country and to thy kindred, and I will deal well with thee.” At the thought of losing such a prize, “Laban said unto him, I pray thee, if I have found favour in thine eyes, tarry: for I have learned by experience that the Lord hath blessed me for thy sake.” Whence we remark,—

That God is the author of all our successes and comforts. Even Laban owns this—“The Lord has blessed me.” No wonder therefore Solomon should say, “The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich.” Moses gives Israel the admonition, “Thou shalt remember the Lord thy God, for he it is that giveth thee power to get wealth.” Yet they soon forgot, and drew upon themselves the reflection, “the ox knoweth his owner and the ass his master’s crib; but Israel doth not know, my people do not consider.” “For she did not know that I gave her corn, and wine, and oil, and multiplied her silver and gold, which they prepared for Baal.” Let us beware of this, and not sacrifice unto our net, and burn incense unto our drag, because by them our portion is fat, and our meat plenteous.

God may bless a bad man—The Lord hath blessed me, says Laban. He maketh his sun to rise upon the evil, as well as upon the good; and sendeth rain not only upon the just, but upon the unjust. If we look over their gardens and fields, we shall not be able to distinguish by their fertility or barrenness those which pertain to the friends or the enemies of God. “All things come alike to all; there is one event to the righteous and to the wicked.” “No man knoweth either love or hatred by all that is before them.” “The sure mercies of David,” are peculiarly appropriated; but the good things of Providence are bestowed indiscriminately. God may heal the bodies of those whose souls are not saved: and he may elevate in life, those who have no inheritance among them that are sanctified. Yea, the wicked often prosper in the world beyond others, and have more than heart can wish. This will not perplex us when we understand their end, and see in what slippery places they are set. Who envies the ox that is fattening for the slaughter in the greenest pasture? Be not thou afraid when one is made rich, and the glory of his house is increased. Do not imagine that God approves of you because he bears with you, and even indulges your desires. Pray for the favour which he bears to his people; for the heritage of those that fear his Name.

God blesses some for the sake of others—“The Lord hath