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。

最後一位以色列先祖雅各是榮耀的住棚節第三位“來賓”。雅各一生都在逃離。首先，他在母親的勸說下，偷了他哥哥以掃的長子祝福後就逃跑了，以致以掃不能為此報復他。其次，雅各逃離以掃，為兩個妻子做了14年苦工後，再次逃離他的岳父。雅各的逃離正如我們在生活中所面臨的困難和挑戰的處境一樣。儘管他並不是每件事都能做出最好的選擇，但他總能表現出對上主的敬畏。正如，他回迦南地的時候，他面對他的哥哥以掃以前，雅各懇求上主說：“耶和華我祖亞伯拉罕的神，我以撒的神阿，你曾對我說，回你本地本族去，我要厚待你。你向僕人所施的一切慈愛和誠實，我一點也不配得。”（創世紀32：9-10）。願我們都擁有同樣的敬畏，在喜樂和試煉的時候尋求上主。

生詞練習：

patriarch：家長、宗主教、主教、教長、族長

flee：迅速離開、（尤指害怕有危險而）逃避、逃跑

convince：使確信、使相信、使信服、說服，勸說（某人做某事）

vengeance：報復、報仇、復仇

demonstrate：證明、證實、論證、說明、表達、表露、表現、顯露、示範、演示

petition：請願書、申訴書、申請書、祈禱、祈求、（向法庭）請求、申請

kindred：（統稱）家人，親屬、親屬關係、血緣關係、類似的、相似的、相關的、有血緣關係的