雅各的一生中有三根柱子和一个台。虽然雅各立柱子有四次，但是只在三个地方，就是基列、伯特利、以及往伯利恒的路上（创三一45，二八18，22，三五14，20）。雅各在伯特利两次立柱子。所以在雅各的一生中实际上只有三根柱子，作他经历的里程碑。除了这三根柱子以外，雅各也经历了一个台，就是以得台（创三五21）。
雅各所立的三根柱子，乃是他一生中的里程碑。这些柱子将他的一生分为三段。在第一段，雅各经历了神的看顾。他从出生那天起，就在神的看顾之下。然而，雅各这一个篡夺者，抓脚跟者，认为他是在自己的看顾之下。最终他领悟，他不是在自已的看顾之下，乃是在神的看顾之下。雅各若是在自己的看顾之下，就无法应付他狡猾的舅父拉班，或者面对他强壮的哥哥以扫。
请回想创世记三十一章雅各怎样离开拉班。他不是荣耀的离开；他是惧怕拉班，偷偷离开他。后来雅各领悟，他得保护不是因着自己的技巧，乃是因着神的看顾。虽然拉班过了三天才知道雅各逃跑了，他仍然追赶他，直到追上。就在拉班追上雅各的前一夜，神对拉班说，『你要小心，不可与雅各说好说歹。』。雅各用神告诉拉班的话作依据，责备拉班，说，『若不是我父亲以撒所敬畏的神，就是亚伯拉罕的神与我同在，你如今必定打发我空手而去；神看见我的苦情，和我的劳碌，就在昨夜责备你。』。雅各责备拉班的时候，他心里深处可能对神的保护觉得感激。神为着他的生存，主宰他的一切环境。
然后拉班对雅各说，『来罢，你我二人可以立约，作你我中间的证据。』（创三一44）。雅各同意拉班的题议，就拿一块石头立作柱子（创三一45）。拉班想要堆聚一堆石头，雅各却立起一根柱子。这根柱子是神看顾雅各的见证。雅各看见了他的生活完全在神的看顾之下。因此，他立起这根柱子，作为神看顾他的有力见证。
雅各二十多年在神的看顾之下。他这么长的时间在拉班压榨的手中（拉班十次改了他的工价），神却一直与他同在，并且祂的手在他身上。所以，雅各与拉班交涉的时候，立起一根柱子，见证他是在神的看顾之下。这根柱子是为着雅各的生存。我们许多人也立过这样一根柱子。基督徒生活的第一阶段，乃是经历神看顾的阶段。甚至在我们得救以前，我们也想要得着神的看顾。许多年来，我们和雅各一样，一直在我们天父的看顾之下。
信息重点：第一根柱子见证神的看顾。雅各原来倚靠自己的聪明和办法保护自己，经过拉班和以扫的环境，逐渐认识真正保护并供应他的乃是神。我们的属灵经历也常从认识神信实、主宰的看顾开始。
应用祷告：主耶稣，感谢你一路看顾、保护并供应我。求你使我不再倚靠自己的聪明，乃学习信靠你的主宰，认识我的生活和道路都在你的手中。阿们。
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The Three Pillars — The Pillar at Gilead — Gen. 31:44-45
Jacob’s life features three pillars and one platform. Although Jacob set up pillars four times, this happened only in three places: Gilead, Bethel and along the road to Bethlehem (Gen. 31:45; 28:18, 22; 35:14, 20). Jacob set up a pillar twice at Bethel. So in Jacob’s life there were actually only three pillars, marking the milestones of his experience. Besides these three pillars, Jacob also experienced a platform, the tower of Eder (Gen. 35:21).
The three pillars Jacob set up are the milestones of his life, dividing his life into three sections. In the first section, Jacob experienced God’s care. From the day he was born, he was under God’s care. Yet Jacob, the supplanter, the one who grasped the heel, considered that he was under his own care. Eventually he realized that he was not under his own care but under God’s care. If Jacob had been under his own care, he could never have dealt with his cunning uncle Laban or faced his strong brother Esau.
Recall how Jacob left Laban in Genesis chapter 31. He did not leave in glory; he fled from Laban in fear, secretly. Later Jacob realized that his protection came not from his own skill but from God’s care. Although it took Laban three days to learn that Jacob had fled, Laban still pursued him until he overtook him. The night before Laban caught up with Jacob, God said to Laban, “Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad” (Gen. 31:24). Using these words God had spoken to Laban as his basis, Jacob rebuked Laban, saying, “If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the fear of Isaac, had not been for me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, so He rendered judgment last night” (Gen. 31:42). As Jacob rebuked Laban, deep in his heart he was likely grateful for God’s protection. For the sake of Jacob’s survival, God sovereignly ruled over all his circumstances.
Then Laban said to Jacob, “so now come, let us make a covenant, you and I, and it shall be a witness between you and me” (Gen. 31:44). Jacob agreed to Laban’s proposal and took a stone and set it up as a pillar (Gen. 31:45). Laban wanted to pile up a heap of stones, but Jacob set up a pillar instead. This pillar is a testimony that God cared for Jacob. Jacob saw that his life was entirely under God’s care. Therefore he set up this pillar as a strong testimony to God’s care for him.
For more than twenty years Jacob was under God’s care. During that long time he was in the oppressive hand of Laban (who changed his wages ten times), yet God was continually with him, and God’s hand was upon him. So when Jacob dealt with Laban, he set up a pillar as a testimony that he was under God’s care. This pillar was for Jacob’s survival. Many of us have also set up such a pillar. The first stage of the Christian life is the stage of experiencing God’s care. Even before we were saved, we wanted to obtain God’s care. For many years, like Jacob, we have all been under the care of our heavenly Father.
Message Major Points: The first pillar testifies to God’s care. Jacob originally relied on his own cleverness and schemes to protect himself; through the circumstances of Laban and Esau, he gradually came to know that it is God who truly protected and supplied him. Our spiritual experience also often begins with knowing God’s faithful, sovereign care.
Daily Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank You for caring for, protecting and supplying me all the way. Grant that I would no longer rely on my own cleverness but learn to trust in Your sovereignty, knowing that my life and my path are in Your hand. Amen.