Gen 31: Jacob’s return to Promised Land

 Now Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob has taken away all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has acquired all this wealth.” ² And Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and indeed it was not favorable toward him as before. ³ Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.”

As we learned in the last chapter, God blessed Jacob with flocks against all odds. Laban thought, he had made a great deal for himself but in reality, it did not turn out that way. As Jacob prospered, Laban’s sons are angry, realizing that steadily Jacob’s success is cutting into their own inheritance. Laban’s attitude toward Jacob changed as well. Up to this point, Laban had prospered because of Jacob but now things were different and it was Jacob who was increasing his wealth. How can he prevent Jacob from leaving? How can he rework the deal? And most importantly, how can he prevent Jacob from taking the flocks? This did not go unnoticed by Jacob. He knew he could not stay much longer but he did not want to be the one to break the contract. God spoke to Jacob in a dream and told him the time had come to get up and go back to his home. Here we learn a very important lesson. When you are in a place like Jacob and trying to decide, If you need to make a move – maybe another job, another career, different church, or go into ministry? This portion of scripture teaches us how to deal with such situation. First, notice that Jacob’s situation changed for the worst. Secondly, word of the God came to Jacob. Similarly, when lord wants us to make the move, the scripture you read on daily basis will point you in that direction. I can personally testify, when God wanted me to move from one church to another and focus on him, the situation really soured for me.  My heart was uneasy and I no longer enjoyed the fellowship.And in my daily devotions, God made it clear the direction I needed it to go in. I am writing this blog today because I listened to God. I truly believe I would have hindered my spiritual growth if I did not obey. If God is pointing you in a different direction, do not hesitate to follow. No matter how difficult or irrational it may seem.

 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock, ⁵ and said to them, “I see your father’s countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me. ⁶ And you know that with all my might I have served your father. ⁷ Yet your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me. ⁸ If he said thus: ‘The speckled shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore speckled. And if he said thus: ‘The streaked shall be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked. ⁹ So God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me.¹⁰ “And it happened, at the time when the flocks conceived, that I lifted my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the rams which leaped upon the flocks were streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted. ¹¹ Then the Angel of God spoke to me in a dream, saying, ‘Jacob.’ And I said, ‘Here I am.’ ¹² And He said, ‘Lift your eyes now and see, all the rams which leap on the flocks are streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted; for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you.

Once God makes it clear to you that you need to move, it is best to act on it quickly without much discussion. Yes, there are some people that you must have a conversation with and explain, why you have made the decision you have made. As we see here and those of you who are married can relate, Jacob had to convince his two wives to make the long journey with him across a desert to Cannan.This was no easy task to ask wives to move away from their family. Jacob knew Laban would never allow him to leave with all his possession and he would have to leave unannounced. Perhaps Jacob should have trusted God and allowed God to handle Laban which God did as we will see later in the chapter. While Jacob was absolutely correct about Laban’s Nature and his intentions, he failed to see the similarities between him and Laban. Many times, We notice the flaws and shortcomings in others are the ones we struggle within our own life. The more flawed a person is, the more he will point out others flaws. Have you noticed in church, those who do not donate are the once always concerned about money and accounting? Have you noticed that those who do not come to bible study are the once first to question pastor about such matters? Here we see, Jacob over and over pointing out Laban’s shortcomings, his tendency to be a deceiver because it was Jacob’s own nature to deceive and to connive. I hope and pray that as I grow closer to Christ, God will deliver me from Jacob mentality and work in me the  AGAPE love that I may not even notice the flaws in others.

Jacob was saved backed in Chapter 28 but he did not completely submit to the will of God. All of us who are born again do not change the instant we accept Christ. Although we are born again, we still have our old nature and flesh can still be in control. Here in these verses, we see how Jacob has learned to submit to the will of God. When he saw Rachel (CH 29), he immediately fell in love with her. He did not seek God’s guidance before marrying her or agreeing to Laban’s terms for two daughters. Many times our tendency is to ask God to bless our decisions instead of asking God what decision I should make. Our tendency is to blame Satan for difficulties in our life, but most times, we are in such situation, because we have failed to seek God’s guidance. When the servant was looking for a bride for Issac, he prayed to God to help him. He dealt with Laban too but his deal went much smoother. Jacob failed to do that and he is still paying the price. But, Jacob did grow in faith as we see here. He gives complete credit to God for his success. He knows, it is God who has increased his wealth and his ability had very little to do with it. In verses 8-12, we understand where Jacob got the idea for his crazy plan to increase his flocks in Ch 30 ( verse 37-43).

¹³ I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.’”¹⁴ Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there still any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house? ¹⁵ Are we not considered strangers by him? For he has sold us, and also completely consumed our money. ¹⁶ For all these riches which God has taken from our father are really ours and our children’s; now then, whatever God has said to you, do it.”

Jacob was relieved to hear them both assure him they would gladly go with him.They knew their father and knew their life was with Jacob. The action of their father and brothers did not go unnoticed and they knew how God had blessed Jacob. Thier decision was not based on the spiritual consideration as that of Jacob, they nevertheless realized it was of God. There is no reason to believe either wife has adopted Jacob’s God as their own as we will see later in this chapter and couple of chapters down the road ( Ch 34-35).

¹⁷ Then Jacob rose and set his sons and his wives on camels. ¹⁸ And he carried away all his livestock and all his possessions which he had gained, his acquired livestock which he had gained in Padan Aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan. ¹⁹ Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel had stolen the household idols that were her father’s. ²⁰ And Jacob stole away, unknown to Laban the Syrian, in that he did not tell him that he intended to flee. ²¹ So he fled with all that he had. He arose and crossed the river, and headed toward the mountains of Gilead.

Jacob lost no time to depart. Laban was away shearing his sheep; so it was the perfect time to leave. As we read verse 18, realize the importance of what is happening. Jacob was not Just leaving Padan- Aram to go back to promised land But he was starting his faith journey. This is the same journey Abraham made when he had a similar dream and was told to leave. The time had come for Jacob to take over the patriarchal responsibility. He possessed both the birthright and the blessing. A minor matter, but nevertheless quite serious is mentioned in passing. Rachel before leaving steals Laban’s idols. Although Laban acknowledged the God of Jacob, he was, in reality, an idol worshipper. Here is a sad truth, many who you see in your church, even in your family are idol worshippers. Like Laban, they know Jesus but have never accepted him. They continue to follow the rituals of church and works to achieve salvation. For many, the Church and the building is an idol. The definition of idolatry, according to Webster, is “the worship of idols or excessive devotion to, or reverence for some person or thing.” An idol is anything that replaces the one, true God. Those of you who hold POPE in high regard, it is a form of Idolatry. Oh, some of you may say, I am a born-again Christian and I do not worship Idols, Oh really, how many times have you let your work hours come between you and God? Do you work long hours and have no time for devotions or prayers? Guess what Job is your Idol. How many of you are so preoccupied with family and children that you have no time for God? Rachel did not fully trust Jacob’s God, she thought taking these images along would help them on the long journey. She is no different than many of us today, happy to know the Lord but not willing to completely submit to Him and not willing to enter a life of separation from the world.

²² And Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled. ²³ Then he took his brethren with him and pursued him for seven days’ journey, and he overtook him in the mountains of Gilead. ²⁴ But God had come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, “Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.”

As soon as they could leave, Laban and his sons started pursuit and covered 10-day journey into seven days. Laban had no intention of letting Jacob take all his flocks to Cannan and was ready to take them by force if necessary. But God intervened, that night, Laban had a dream! In the dream, God warned him not to harm Jacob in any way. He was not even to speak to him harshly. God made it clear that Jacob was under his protection and following his direction. Although Laban did not worship the God of Jacob, he knew enough not to disobey Him.

²⁵ So Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountains, and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mountains of Gilead.²⁶ And Laban said to Jacob: “What have you done, that you have stolen away unknown to me, and carried away my daughters like captives taken with the sword? ²⁷ Why did you flee away secretly, and steal away from me, and not tell me; for I might have sent you away with joy and songs, with timbrel and harp? ²⁸ And you did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters. Now you have done foolishly in so doing. ²⁹ It is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.’ ³⁰ And now you have surely gone because you greatly long for your father’s house, but why did you steal my gods?”

The next morning, Laban overtook Jacob before his caravan got underway. The atmosphere must have been very tense. This was another test of faith for Jacob. Laban, on his part, must be very angry and helpless as well as frustrated because God had barred him from carrying out his intentions. He even told Jacob, the only thing stopping me from harming you is the warning from your God. Although he sais he had “power to harm”, in reality, he had none. Psalm 91 says A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. We have nothing to be afraid of. Paul goes on to say If God is for you, who can be against you? What a marvelous promise.Trying to justify his actions in some measure, he accuses Jacob of stealing his gods. Laban knew Jacob well enough to know that Jacob had no use for his gods.

³¹ Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I said, ‘Perhaps you would take your daughters from me by force.’ ³² With whomever you find your gods, do not let him live. In the presence of our brethren, identify what I have of yours and take it with you.” For Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.

Obviously, Jacob had no idea Rachel had taken them otherwise he would never make such statement. Jacob also once again clarified saying all that I have is fairly mine. He had earned all the things had taken with him.

³³ And Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent, and into the two maids’ tents, but he did not find them. Then he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent. ³⁴ Now Rachel had taken the household idols, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them. And Laban searched all about the tent but did not find them. ³⁵ And she said to her father, “Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise before you, for the manner of women is with me.” And he searched but did not find the household idols.³⁶ Then Jacob was angry and rebuked Laban, and Jacob answered and said to Laban: “What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have so hotly pursued me? ³⁷ Although you have searched all my things, what part of your household things have you found? Set it here before my brethren and your brethren, that they may judge between us both! ³⁸ These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried their young, and I have not eaten the rams of your flock. ³⁹ That which was torn by beasts I did not bring to you; I bore the loss of it. You required it from my hand, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. ⁴⁰ There I was! In the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night, and my sleep departed from my eyes. ⁴¹ Thus I have been in your house twenty years; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you have changed my wages ten times. ⁴² Unless the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the labor of my hands, and rebuked you last night.

Jacob finally had enough and lost his temper at this point. He was not happy with Laban. He had chased him down, falsely accused him of stealing and financially cheated over the last 20 years. He had waited so long to express his resentment at Laban’s treatment. But, at the end, Jacob concludes with beautiful testimony that God had been with him and his increase was due to God’s blessing. Jacob had reason to be angry but not as much as he thought. Yes, Laban had cheated him on many occasions but on this occasion unbeknownst to Jacob, Rachel did take the idols and was in her possession. So many times we find ourselves in a similar predicament. We are quick to get angry and start lashing out at people who we feel have done wrong but we need to remember this story. Like Jacob, we always don’t know the whole truth. Many times we judge people and say how can this person be Christian but none of us can see the heart. There is only one who sees perfectly and that’s Jesus.

⁴³ And Laban answered and said to Jacob, “These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and this flock is my flock; all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these my daughters or to their children whom they have borne? ⁴⁴ Now therefore, come, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it be a witness between you and me.”⁴⁵ So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. ⁴⁶ Then Jacob said to his brethren, “Gather stones.” And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there on the heap. ⁴⁷ Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha,^[a] but Jacob called it Galeed.

 Laban could not say anything at all in his own defense. He completely changed the subject. How could Jacob suppose that he would hurt his daughters and grandkids? Laban realized he was wrong but he could not bring himself to repent or make public acknowledgment. In the garden of Eden, Adam said to God, the woman made me do it. Like Laban, we are always trying to justify our actions. Instead, we should repent and acknowledge our sins to our father and there is nothing he will not forgive. So many in the church are like Laban, they know they are wrong, they know they need to repent and be born-again yet, day after day, they continue to delay the decision.

⁴⁸ And Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore its name was called Galeed, ⁴⁹ also Mizpah,^[c] because he said, “May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from another. ⁵⁰ If you afflict my daughters, or if you take other wives besides my daughters, although no man is with us—see, God is witness between you and me!”⁵¹ Then Laban said to Jacob, “Here is this heap and here is this pillar, which I have placed between you and me. ⁵² This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not pass beyond this heap to you, and you will not pass beyond this heap and this pillar to me, for harm. ⁵³ The God of Abraham, the God of Nahor, and the God of their father judge between us.” And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac. ⁵⁴ Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his brethren to eat bread. And they ate bread and stayed all night on the mountain. ⁵⁵ And early in the morning Laban arose, and kissed his sons and daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned to his place.

Even after all this, Laban is suggesting that Jacob is the one not to be trusted.He demanded certain restriction on his activities. Jacob had always treated his wife with kindness and Laban had no reason to think he would do otherwise.Laban even calls out to  Jacob’s God, saying  “May Jehovah watch between me and you when we can not see each other.” He is actually implying Jacob is the one who needs watching. So next time when unbeliever treats you badly or does not trust you, don’t feel bad, just remember this story. Laban kisses his daughters and children but does not even say goodbye to Jacob. He wants nothing to do with Jacob. Laban departed and no further mention is made of him in scripture. There is a lot to learn from Laban. He is an example of worldly man who seeks riches of the world, one who knows about the true God. He witnessed the blessings of God, along with the power of God in life of Jacob. He even enjoyed the fruits of the blessings through his relationship with Jacob. Nevertheless, he continued  in sinful life, seeking material gain for himself. Rather than to folllow the truth of God’s plan, he chased meaningless wealth. Oh, he was interested in blessing of Jacob’s God but on his own term and at the end, he ended up with nothing. His life is a great warning to casual Christians and those who have failed to make a genuine commitment to Jesus. Like Laban many are interested in blessings but do not want to give up the pleasures of this world.If you are one of them, REPENT and ACCEPT Jesus today.