Evening, November 14
Go To Morning Reading
“And Laban said, It must not be so done in our country, to give the
younger before the firstborn.”
Genesis 29:26
We do not excuse Laban for his dishonesty, but we scruple not to learn
from the custom which he quoted as his excuse. There are some things
which must be taken in order, and if we would win the second we must
secure the first. The second may be the more lovely in our eyes, but
the rule of the heavenly country must stand, and the elder must be
married first. For instance, many men desire the beautiful and well-favoured
Rachel of joy and peace in believing, but they must first be wedded
to the tender-eyed Leah of repentance. Every one falls in love with
happiness, and many would cheerfully serve twice seven years to enjoy
it, but according to the rule of the Lord’s kingdom, the Leah of real holiness must be beloved of our soul before
the Rachel of true happiness can be attained. Heaven stands not first
but second, and only by persevering to the end can we win a portion
in it. The cross must be carried before the crown can be worn. We
must follow our Lord in his humiliation, or we shall never rest with
him in glory.
My soul, what sayest thou, art thou so vain as to hope to break through
the heavenly rule? Dost thou hope for reward without labour, or honour
without toil? Dismiss the idle expectation, and be content to take
the ill-favoured things for the sake of the sweet love of Jesus, which
will recompense thee for all. In such a spirit, labouring and suffering,
thou wilt find bitters grow sweet, and hard things easy. Like Jacob,
thy years of service will seem unto thee but a few days for the love
thou hast to Jesus; and when the dear hour of the wedding feast shall
come, all thy toils shall be as though they had never been—an hour with Jesus will make up for ages of pain and labour.
Jesus, to win thyself so fair,
Thy cross I will with gladness bear:
Since so the rules of heaven ordain,
The first I'll wed the next to gain.