CHAPTER XII.

LABAN'S CUSTOM.

It must not be so done in our country.-Gen. 29:26.

"Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap" is one of the declarations in God's word. It is as true now as ever. It has always been so. Jesus said that Heaven and earth would pass away but his word would never pass away. The wrong doing of a man's life will overtake him sooner or later. We were told of a certain public road in an Eastern state over which a son led his old father to the poor house and in due time was led by his son over the same road to the same institution, and that had gone on and over the same road for four successive generations. We have often wondered what must have been the state of their minds as each in turn was being led by their own son, when they would remember the time when they led their old, white haired, trembling father, over the same path; and as they would watch the retreating form of their son, he whom they had dandled on their

knee and watched over so earnestly when nigh unto death, retreating off down the road, leaving them in their loneliness, sorrow and helplessness, what an opportunity they would have to go back and view their own past.

Less than twenty miles from our former residence there lived a man who gained his wealth by questionable means and to keep it from being taken from him he placed it in the hands of his married son and went to make his home with them. The old man became childish and feeble and goaded on by a selfish wife, the son placed the father in the poor house. In time, the son became involved and to save his property placed it in the hands of his son. Great changes were made in a few years, and one day, that son led his father to the poor-house and left him with these words, "There, you keep Grandfather company." Then came the "reaping time." If we deceive others we are sure to be deceived ourselves. Abraham misrepresented his wife. "She is my sister," he said, and she was his half sister but not his sister in the sense he wished to convey. It seemed to run in the family, this lying deception, for Isaac in turn lies to Abimelech,

King of the Philistines, saying Rebekah, his wife, was his sister instead. It looks like a family disease for Rebekah deceives Isaac, and Jacob lies to him also and has to leave home to save his life. In Genesis, chapter twenty-nine, we are told of Jacob continuing his journey, of his meeting Rebekah at the well, of Laban coming to meet him and his abiding one month with them. Then follows the bargain for Jacob to work for Laban seven years for Rachel, with whom he had fallen in love. In ancient times it was customary for men to give "dowries" for their wives. You will remember that Abraham's servant took along much wealth when he went after Rebekah. Jacob has nothing, so offers his service, is accepted and serves his time and then asks for his pay-Rachel to be his wife. Laban had two daughters, Leah tender-eyed and Rachel. All that is meant by tender-eyed we do not know. Some think she had beautiful eyes but we have been accustomed to hearing her called sore-eyed Leah. The story is not a new one to my readers. The feasting and drinking began. The bride, covered with the large bridal veil of those days, her face could not be seen and

not until the following morning did Jacob discover that Laban had deceived him and given him his eldest sore-eyed daughter instead of the fair beautiful Rachel. Ah! Jacob this is only the beginning; rivers of tears will flow down those cheeks of thine; that heart of yours will be deceived more than one time before you die. You began life with deceit and covetousness and it will come back to you with compound interest. You will get your pay, and that in full measure. You deceived your father, now somebody's father deceives you, and it will not stop here either.

Jacob accused Laban of his deception and Laban hides behind a custom of his country saying, "It must not be done so in our country to give the younger before the first-born." It does not matter Laban, what the custom is, you will sooner or later, get a taste of your deception also. God has said a man shall reap what he sows. There are many today in Laban's train, following customs instead of God's word, and one and all will find out in time that God has not put laws in his Book to have them broken. They may appear as trifles but Solomon wrote:

“take us the foxes, the little foxes that
spoil the vines, for our vines have ten-

der grapes." (Song of Solomon 2:15). It was the little foxes that did the mischief, and if we keep clean and pure from the little things, I trow we shall be all the more able to defeat the large ones. The Bible says for children to "honor" thy father and thy mother" but the custom these days is for sons and daughters to do pretty much as they please. God says not to take his name in vain, but I believe more than the average number of men curse and swear just as if he had not said not to do it. They will find in due time, their folly.

God has said not to commit adultery, yet the land is teeming with it. The divorce courts are more than full; and almost any and every reason that can be trumped up is given for cause for divorce; yet, Jesus Christ said:

"Whosoever shall put away his wife, saving it be for fornication and marry another, commiteth adultery." (Matt. 19.9).

And in the same chapter when the rich young ruler came to him and asked what he should do