Wesley Corpus

Chapter XXIX This chapter gives us an account of God's providences concerning Jacob, pursuant to the promise made him in the foregoing chapter. How he was brought in safety to his journey's end, and directed to his relations there, who bid him welcome, ver. 1 - 14. How he was comfortably disposed of in marriage, ver. 15 - 30. How his family was built up in the birth of four sons, ver. 31 - 35. Providence brought him to the very field where his uncle's flock's were to be watered, and there he met with Rachel that was to be his wife. The Divine Providence is to be acknowledged in all the little circumstances which concur to make a journey or other undertaking comfortable and successful. If, when we are at a loss, we meet with those seasonably that can direct us; if we meet with a disaster, and those are at hand that will help us; we must not say it was by chance, but it was by providence: our ways are ways of pleasantness, if we continually acknowledge God in them. The stone on the well's mouth was either to secure their property in it, for water was scarce, to save the well from receiving damage from the heat of the sun, or to prevent the lambs of the flock from being drowned in it. She kept her father's sheep - She took the care of them, having servants under her that were employed about them when he understood that this was his kinswoman (probably he had heard of her name before) knowing what his errand was into that country, we may suppose it struck into his mind immediately, that this must be his wife, as one already smitten with an honest comely face (though it is likely, sun - burnt, and she in the homely dress of a shepherdess) he is wonderfully officious, and ready to serve her, ver.10, and addresses himself to her with tears of joy, and kisses of love, ver.11, she runs with all haste to tell her father, for she will by no means entertain her kinsman's address without her father's knowledge and approbation, ver.12. These mutual respects at their first interview were good presages of their being a happy couple.