「我要按著在我前面群畜和孩子們的步速慢慢前行」－創世記 33:14
雅各對牲畜和孩子的顧念形成了何等一幅美麗的圖畫！
他不願意催趕他們多走一天的路程。他不願像以掃一樣強逼他們，照自己的期待期待他們，反之，他願按著他們所能承受的來帶領他們。他對他們一天所能走的路程了然於心，而這也成了他安排隊伍的唯一考量。
多年前他曾走過同樣的曠野，親歷這道路的艱難、炎熱，和漫長。因此他說：「我要慢慢地領你們前行。」「因為這條路你們向來沒有走過。」（約書亞記三章四節）
我們所沒有走過的路，主耶穌都走過了。對我們，這是未曾踏上的旅程；但對祂，這一切都經歷過了。
陡峭的巖壁讓我們無法喘息，曲折的石徑使我們雙腿癱弱，太陽的炙熱令我們疲倦困乏；等在前頭的，還有滾滾的奔流...，然而，這一切主都在前頭為我們走過了。「耶穌因行路困乏。」因祂所受的患難，令祂成了我們最好的領袖。
「因為祂知道我們的本體，思念我們不過是塵土。」當你受試探，開始懷疑祂的帶領，請思念這話。祂時時刻刻都在懷念著我們；前頭的路沒有一步祂未曾為我們量過，祂知道我們所能忍受的地步，祂也為我們量定所需的賽程。我們無須擔憂將踏出的下一步；因祂若非以祂自己作我們行走的能力，祂必會挪去我們無法越過的險阻。－海弗格爾
"I will lead on softly, according as the cattle that goeth before me and the children be able to endure" (Gen. 33:14).What a beautiful picture of Jacob's thoughtfulness for the cattle and the children! He would not allow them to be overdriven even for one day. He would not lead on according to what a strong man like Esau could do and expected them to do, but only according to what they were able to endure. He knew exactly how far they could go in a day; and he made that his only consideration in arranging the marches. He had gone the same wilderness journey years before, and knew all about its roughness and heat and length, by personal experience. And so he said, "I will lead on softly." "For ye have not passed this way heretofore" (Josh.3:4.).
We have not passed this way heretofore, but the Lord Jesus has. It is all untrodden and unknown ground to us, but He knows it all by personal experience. The steep bits that take away our breath, the stony bits that make our feet ache so, the hot shadeless stretches that make us feel so exhausted, the rushing rivers that we have to pass through--Jesus has gone through it all before us. "He was wearied with his journey." Not some, but all the many waters went over Him, and yet did not quench His love. He was made a perfect Leader by the things which He suffered.
"He knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust." Think of that when you are tempted to question the gentleness of His leading. He is remembering all the time; and not one step will He make you take beyond what your foot is able to endure. Never mind if you think it will not be able for the step that seems to come next; either He will so strengthen it that it shall be able, or He will call a sudden halt, and you shall not have to take it at all. --Frances Ridley Havergal
