The last of the Patriarchs, Jacob, is our third guest to honor our sukkahs with his presence. Jacob lived his life constantly running and fleeing from danger. After he is convinced by his mother to steal the firstborn blessing from his brother, he flees so that Esau cannot take vengeance. He then spends fourteen years laboring for two wives and then flees from his father-in-law. Jacob displays the difficulties and challenges that a believer faces in life. Although he does not make the best choice in every case, he always demonstrated an understanding of the fear of the LORD. When confronted by his brother Esau when he is returning to the land of Canaan, he petitions God, “O God of my father Abraham and God of my father Isaac, O LORD who said to me, ‘Return to your country and to your kindred, that I may do you good,’ I am not worthy of the least of all the deeds of steadfast love and all the faithfulness that you have shown to your servant” (Genesis 32:9–10). May we all have the same fear of the LORD and seek God in moments of joy and moments of trial.
最后一位以色列先祖雅各是荣耀的住棚节第三位“来宾”。雅各一生都在逃离。首先，他在母亲的劝说下，偷了他哥哥以扫的长子祝福后就逃跑了，以致以扫不能为此报复他。其次，雅各逃离以扫，为两个妻子做了14年苦工后，再次逃离他的岳父。雅各的逃离正如我们在生活中所面临的困难和挑战的处境一样。尽管他并不是每件事都能做出最好的选择，但他总能表现出对上主的敬畏。正如，他回迦南地的时候，他面对他的哥哥以扫以前，雅各恳求上主说：“耶和华我祖亚伯拉罕的神，我以撒的神阿，你曾对我说，回你本地本族去，我要厚待你。你向仆人所施的一切慈爱和诚实，我一点也不配得。”（创世纪32:9-10）。愿我们都拥有同样的敬畏，在喜乐和试炼的时候寻求上主。
生词练习：
patriarch：家长、宗主教、主教、教长、族长
flee：迅速离开、(尤指害怕有危险而)逃避、逃跑
convince：使确信、使相信、使信服、说服，劝说(某人做某事)
vengeance：报复、报仇、复仇
demonstrate：证明、证实、论证、说明、表达、表露、表现、显露、示范、演示
petition：请愿书、申诉书、申请书、祈祷、祈求、(向法庭)请求、申请
kindred：(统称)家人，亲属、亲属关系、血缘关系、类似的、相似的、相关的、有血缘关系的
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