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Up to this point in Jacob's life the only support and encouragement he ever had, or known, came only from Rebekah his mother. And although he had been predestine by the Lord to be the new steward of the Abrahamic Covenant - Jacob gives in to the pressure from his mother and agrees to participate in his mother's plan to deceive his father Isaac for a birthright that was already his.

The plan would seem to work out, being that it would result in Jacob receiving a special blessing that his father Isaac had intended to speak into Esau's life.

Keep in mind that Jacob had already been fearful of incurring the wrath of God behind his participation in his mother's deceitful plan against his father.

And on top of that, Esau the brother he betrayed in the process would find out what Jacob had done as well, when it came to tricking and deceiving their father Isaac into getting the "special blessing" that Esau thought was his. And it was for these reasons that Esau had vowed to kill his brother Jacob.

And it's because of Esau's anger and vow to seek vengeance against Jacob that he is now forced to leave his father's great estate. Now we find that it's at this time, that Jacob finds himself all alone, away from the privileges and comforts he was so accustom to. However, regardless of how Jacob obtained his new responsibilities, he was now the new steward of the Abrahamic Covenant.

And although this was his true purpose from the start, it was only fitting that the Lord Himself at this time in Jacob's life, had given Jacob a heavenly confirmation through a dream that he had while he slept on a stone that he was using for a pillow to rest on. Now we learned that after Jacob had the pleasure of experiencing such a magnificent moment, we now find that he has continued forward with his journey.

But only now, Jacob has more confidence and a greater anticipation of good things to come, in regards to his purpose in life. Know that he didn't have a confidence of such, when he first left from his father's household.

Jacob would eventually travel some four-hundred miles out, as he left the land of Canaan and as Jacob approached a water-well that was in the field, he would come in contact with some shepherds that dwelled within the eastern parts of the land he was now finding himself traveling through. The Sacred Scriptures takes the time to point out, that when all the flocks were gathered at the water-well, a very large and heavy stone that covered the mouth of this "water-well" , would normally be removed by the shepherds during this time.

Then after the sheep had been watered the shepherds would roll the stone back over the mouth of the water-well. Understand that water was a very precious and valuable commodity in those parts, and that particular water-well was used by strictly by its owners, so therefore it was not to be used by just anybody. This stone would also help to preserve the water, and safeguard it against any spiteful person, or drifters that might want to pollute or poison its contents, or gain access to it.

The stone would also protect the water-well not just from strangers and drifters, but also from damage that could be caused by the extreme heat of the sun, and it was also helpful in keeping the sheep from falling in and perhaps accidentally drowning themselves.

Upon arriving, Jacob calls out: "My brothers, where are you from?" The shepherds responded by saying: "We are from Haran." After hearing this Jacob asked: "Do you know Laban, Nahor's grandson?" The shepherds responded by saying: "Yes, we know him." Jacob then asked: "Is he well?" And the shepherds answered: "Yes, he is and here comes his daughter Rachel with the sheep."

Then Jacob said: "Look, the sun is still high; it is not time for the flocks to be gathered. Water the sheep and take them back to pasture." And after hearing Jacob's advice the shepherds responded by saying: "We can't until all the flocks are gathered and the stone has been rolled away from the mouth of the well. Then we will water the sheep."

In the meantime, while Jacob and the shepherds were talking amongst themselves, the woman the shepherd had told Jacob about came near with her father's sheep. She was named "Rachel" which means "a sheep". Rachel was the shepherdess of that flock and she also outranked the other shepherds that were there with her. She was also the daughter of Laban the brother of Jacob's mother Rebekah. The Sacred Scriptures also tells us that she was a very beautiful, humble and industrious (hard working) woman. And when Jacob had seen her, he ran and removed the stone from the mouth of the well.

Now I would like to point something out real quick when it comes to what Jacob had just done, in regards to moving the large and heavy stone by himself. For it alone speaks volumes about his true physical strength. Perhaps Jacob wasn't as weak physically as he thought he was? Be that as it may, Jacob would then water the sheep that Rachel was tending to. After doing this, he went over to Rachel and kissed her. Now understand that this was done in a polite way, being that it was the custom of that place at that time whenever you first greeted a friend, or relative. It's also at this moment that Jacob would then cry out loud, as he wept with tears of joy.

Keep in mind that this would mark a great moment for Jacob, being that once again he gets some sort of confirmation that he is indeed on the right path. First he gets the visitation and a vision in his dream from the Lord - which gave him confirmation of his true life purpose. Now he gets another confirmation that shows him, that the instructions that his father Isaac had given to him before his departure, are now beginning to come into play as well:

"Go at once to Paddan Aram, to the house of your mother's father Bethuel. Take a wife for yourself there, from among the daughters of Laban, your mother's brother." -- (Genesis 28:2)

Now it's at this moment that Jacob begins to explain to Rachel, that he was a relative of her father and the son of Rebekah. Now after Rachel had heard what Jacob had just said, she immediately ran back home so she could tell her father Laban all that Jacob had just told her.

So we find that after Laban had heard all that Rachel had to say about Jacob and his arrival, he too, ran out to meet with him. Upon reaching him, Laban would embrace and kiss Jacob. Remember that it was their custom to do this while one meet and greet friends and relatives. However we find that afterwards, Laban would invite Jacob to his home and it's at this time, Jacob told Laban about his journey and how he met his daughter Rachel earlier at the water-well. Now after Laban heard all that Jacob was willing to share with him, he told Jacob: "You are my own flesh and blood."

Now that Jacob had arrived at the place that his father Isaac had instructed him to seek out. How will Laban deal with the fact that Jacob is actually there to marry one of his daughters?

The Introduction of Abraham

The Birth of Isaac

The Birth of Esau & Jacob

**YOUR CURRENT BIBLE STUDY ONLINE SERIES WOULD BE HERE**

Jacob - Wrestles with God

Joseph the Favorite Son

Joseph the Overseer of Egypt

The Unveiling of Joseph

42) Esau - Heart of Vengeance

43) Jacob - The Path of Uncertainty

44) Jacob - The Stone Pillow Dream

45) <-CURRENT BIBLE STUDY ONLINE PAGE->

46) Jacob - The Love Season of Reaping

47) Leah's Divine Favor

48) Bilhah the Child Bearer

49) Zilpah the Child Bearer

50) The Mandrake Plant of Love

51) The Birth of Joseph

52) Spotted & Speckled

53) Jacob the Master Shepherd

54) Jacob the Prosperous

55) Jacob Departs from Laban