SCRIPTURE: GENESIS 31
BIBLE VERSES:
“The angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob.’ I answered, ‘Here I am.’ And he said, ‘Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you. I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.’” (Genesis 31:11-13)
“Then Jacob put his children and his wives on camels, and he drove all his livestock ahead of him, along with all the goods he had accumulated in Paddan Aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.” (Genesis 31:17-18)
“I have been with you for twenty years now. Your sheep and goats have not miscarried, nor have I eaten rams from your flocks. I did not bring you animals torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss myself. And you demanded payment from me for whatever was stolen by day or night. This was my situation: The heat consumed me in the daytime and the cold at night, and sleep fled from my eyes. It was like this for the twenty years I was in your household. I worked for you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flocks, and you changed my wages ten times. If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you.”” (Genesis 31:38-42)
“If you mistreat my daughters or if you take any wives besides my daughters, even though no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.” Laban also said to Jacob, “Here is this heap, and here is this pillar I have set up between you and me. This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not go past this heap to your side to harm you and that you will not go past this heap and pillar to my side to harm me. May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” (Genesis 31:50-53)
JACOB FLEES FROM LABAN (vs. 1-21)
Jacob heard Laban’s brother saying that he had taken everything that their father owned and had gained all the wealth that belonged to their father. In addition, he also noticed that Laban’s attitude towards his had changed. Then the Lord told Jacob to go back to his father’s land. Jacob told Leah and Rachel and they agreed to go with him. Rachel stole her father’s household god without Jacob’s knowledge. Together with their children, camels livestock and all the goods they had accumulated in Padlan Aran, they went to Canaan.
LABAN PURSUES JACOB (vs. 22-35)
When Laban discovered that Jacob had fled together with his family, he pursued Jacob for 7 days and caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead. But the Lord told Laban in a dream not to say anything to Jacob when they met. Labsan asked Jacob why he did not inform him and why did he stole his gods. Jacob told Laban that he can do to anyone who had stolen his gods. Rachel put the household gods inside her camel’s saddle and was sitting on them. When the search was going on, she excuses herself by saying that she was having her period so she could not stand up. So they were not able to find the household gods. Then Jacob poured out his anger and said: “I have been with you for 20 years. I worked for you 14 years for your daughters and 6 years for your flocks, and you changed my wages 10 times. If God had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty handed.”(vs. 41-42)
So Labab made a covenant with Jacob. They took stones and piled them in a heap. Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha and Jacob called it Galeed or Mizpah. Laban said: “May the Lord keep watch between you and me when we are awat from each other. If you mistreat my daughter or if you take any wives besides my daughter, even though no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me” (vs. 49-50). The heap and the pillar stood as boundary and witness for them not to invade each other. Jacob and Laban spent the night with aq meal and early next morning, Laban kissed his grandchildren and daughters and blessed them. Then he left and returned home.
THOUGHTS:
Jacob’s wealth made Laban’s sons jealous. To compare our success with others is giving jealousy a foothold. Instead of becoming jealous, rejoice in other’s success.
Jacob had been treated unfairly by Laban. But God still increase his prosperity. God has the ability to meet our needs and make us thrive even though others mistreat or is unfair to us. Instead of responding to mistreatment or unfairness, give it to the Lord. He will do it for you.