Genesis 2011 - Lesson 31B

• Jacob made his case to his wives that it was time to leave Laban and head to a new place

  • God had appeared to Jacob and given him the instructions to pack up and move

    • Laban had turned against Jacob because of Jacob’s success

    • And Laban was probably looking for any reason to accuse Jacob and recover his lost herds

  • But Jacob needed to bring his wives along with him in this change

    • They are Laban’s daughters, so Jacob deals with them in a respectful way, seeking their support and agreement

    • He pleads his case and waits for their response

  • Let’s take note of how these women respond and see what we can learn about their hearts today

Gen. 31:14 Rachel and Leah said to him, “Do we still have any portion or inheritance in our father’s house? 
Gen. 31:15 “Are we not reckoned by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and has also entirely consumed our purchase price. 
Gen. 31:16 “Surely all the wealth which God has taken away from our father belongs to us and our children; now then, do whatever God has said to you.” 

• Jacob made his case to his wives in a two-part argument

  • First, he said the family’s situation was now in jeopardy because Laban had taken notice of Jacob’s gains and was hostile toward Jacob

    • In fact, Jacob’s gains were designed by God to come at Laban’s expense

    • So it was no surprise that Laban has become upset

  • Secondly, the Lord has called Jacob to return home

    • The call came in a dream, where God reminded Jacob that he had made a vow to return

    • So Jacob had little choice but to obey God’s call

• In their response, the wives focus on the issue of the inheritance and the wealth of their father

  • First, they ask if they have any inheritance in their father’s house?

    • Since Jacob wasn’t a true son of Laban, he wasn’t entitled to any of Laban’s wealth

      • That’s why Jacob has been required to earn it

      • And since Jacob had fallen out of favor with Laban, they assume correctly that Jacob will never receive anything

    • Secondly, the daughters themselves had no inheritance since only the men could inherit property

    • So the women conclude that there is nothing to expect from their father in the future

  • Secondly, they say he has treated them as foreigners because Laban sold them to Jacob

    • Remember that normally women were betrothed with a purchase paid to the father

      • The higher the price paid, the more it honored the woman

    • But Laban allowed Jacob to buy his wives through labor

      • And the value of that labor remained with Laban

      • He alone profited by that labor

      • Thus he consumed the purchase price that Jacob paid rather than using it to bless the daughters with their dowry

    • So the wives’ second observation is that they have been treated poorly by their father all along

      • They have little reason to cling to their father’s household

  • Finally, they acknowledge God’s authority in the situation

    • They see the hand of God doing all these things to enrich Jacob

    • They tell Jacob to do as God directed

• With that begins Jacob’s personal exodus out of Laban’s family

  • This is a fascinating story with more intrigue than meets the eye

    • As we study this section, remember the main theme of Jacob’s story:

      • The sovereignty of God working through the sin of people

  • Jacob is showing helpful signs as a man who knows the Lord’s work and trusts in Him to a degree

    • But he still has a tendency to rely on schemes and deception to make things happen

    • And his wives follow in his footsteps

Gen. 31:17 Then Jacob arose and put his children and his wives upon camels; 
Gen. 31:18 and he drove away all his livestock and all his property which he had gathered, his acquired livestock which he had gathered in Paddan-aram, to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac. 
Gen. 31:19 When Laban had gone to shear his flock, then Rachel stole the household idols that were her father’s. 
Gen. 31:20 And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was fleeing. 
Gen. 31:21 So he fled with all that he had; and he arose and crossed the Euphrates River, and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead. 
Gen. 31:22 When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled, 
Gen. 31:23 then he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him a distance of seven days’ journey, and he overtook him in the hill country of Gilead. 

• Jacob aims to make a midnight escape from Laban

  • He knows that Laban doesn’t want to see Jacob leave his employment

    • This is especially since Jacob will be taking most of Laban’s wealth with him

    • Therefore, Jacob makes a run for it

  • In v.20 we’re told Jacob deceived Laban by not telling him he was leaving

    • Here’s a wonderful verse to remind us that deception can take the form of withholding truthful information

    • Jacob knew that the proper thing to do in this case was to tell Laban of his departure

      • After living in Laban’s house for 20 years and having married his two daughters, Jacob would certainly be expected to inform Laban

    • In fact, he was under a legal obligation to seek the patriarch’s blessing for this action 

      • As a hired man, Jacob was bound to remain in Laban’s employment until Laban released him

  • Therefore, Jacob purposely withheld the news that he was leaving, and in not telling Laban something he should tell him, Jacob was deceitful

    • Reminding us of James’ instructions

James 4:17 Therefore, to one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, to him it is sin. 

• We don’t need the Bible to spell out godly living down to the last detail of life

  • The Holy Spirit living in each of us provides a compass in our heart true enough to point out right from wrong in any situation

  • When we know what is right, we sense it by God’s grace and by that knowledge, we instantly become obligated by God’s word to do the right thing

  • When we go against that knowledge, we sin

• Jacob was right to leave Laban, but he was wrong to do it in this way

  • Once again Jacob relies on deception, complicating his obedience to God

• Meanwhile, Rachel makes a move of her own

  • Laban is out shearing the flock, which is a multi-day endeavor involving many men

    • This leaves the homes empty of men, so Rachel takes the opportunity to steal Laban’s household idols

  • Among pagan worshippers, each household would adopt its own idols

    • These idols could take many forms, and were represented as small figurines a few inches high

    • The idols became associated with the household’s identity, protecting and blessing the house

      • They might be inscribed with the family name

    • The patriarch of the family held these idols

      • They were passed down to the next patriarch of the family

      • So the idols also indicated family authority and the right to rule the inheritance

      • Nuzi tablets of this era have been found with instructions that whoever possessed the family idols could lay claim to be the legitimate heir

    • So whoever possessed these idols could assume ownership of Laban’s estate upon his death

  • Reading that Rachel took these idols leaves us wondering if her intentions were to worship them

    • The suggestion is that she didn’t have a faith in God but retained her pagan religious views

      • While this is possible, the issue of inheritance is much more likely

    • Rachel took these idols as leverage against her father and protection against his threats

      • She took the “keys to his kingdom,” which would have left Laban very vulnerable

      • Perhaps she wanted some insurance that Laban wouldn’t attack them

      • Or maybe she intended to use them to claim some of the estate that Laban has withheld from her and Leah when he denied them a dowry

• Regardless of her reasons, her actions mirrored those of her husband

  • While Jacob was deceiving Laban, Rachel was stealing from Laban

    • Aren’t these two tempting God by their actions?

    • As readers we know the Lord has promised to act in Jacob’s best interest, but will their mischief cause God to go back on his promises?

  • It’s important to remember that at this early point in the Bible, a reader is still trying to understand the character and nature of this Creator God

    • And Moses is teaching us about God by recording God’s responses to men in their sin

    • In the first part of Genesis, God showed that sin has consequences

      • Adam and Eve received consequences for failing to keep God’s word

      • So God is a God who responds to sin

    • Then later in the face of worldwide rebellion, God judges men through a worldwide flood

      • But God promises to preserve a family of godly people if Noah builds an ark

      • So God is a God who executes judgment while offering mercy to those who hear Him

    • Now we watch as God makes covenant with men, covenants that hold no requirements for men

      • And as Abraham, Isaac and Jacob experience sin in their lives, God has shown Himself faithful regardless

      • So God is a God who honors His promises unconditionally

  • Clearly, the relationship we want with this God is one based on His promises, and not one based on our performance

    • When our relationship with God depends on man’s performance, the outcomes are disastrous

    • When we turn to God’s mercy, rescue will come

    • And when we rest in God’s promises, nothing can shake God’s faithfulness

  • Still, even if our sin won’t break God’s covenants, it will bring consequences

    • We’ve seen this throughout the story of the patriarchs, especially in the story of Jacob

      • He continues to introduce deception into the work of God

      • God is preparing to show Jacob a better way, but for the time being continues to rescue Jacob

  • So Jacob reaches Gilead, which is directly east of Bethel across the Jordan

    • Jacob has crossed the desert directly, which is the hardest way to travel but it indicates how quickly he was trying to move

Gen. 31:22 When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled, 
Gen. 31:23 then he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him a distance of seven days’ journey, and he overtook him in the hill country of Gilead. 
Gen. 31:24 God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night and said to him, “Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad.” 
Gen. 31:25 Laban caught up with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban with his kinsmen camped in the hill country of Gilead. 
Gen. 31:26 Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done by deceiving me and carrying away my daughters like captives of the sword? 
Gen. 31:27 “Why did you flee secretly and deceive me, and did not tell me so that I might have sent you away with joy and with songs, with timbrel and with lyre; 
Gen. 31:28 and did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters? Now you have done foolishly. 
Gen. 31:29 “It is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful not to speak either good or bad to Jacob.’ 

• It takes three days before Laban hears that Jacob has left with his family

  • Remember that Laban made his sons move their flocks three days journey away from Jacob

    • This distance is the reason for the three day delay in the news reaching Laban

    • But as soon as Laban hears, he rushes to catch Jacob

  • Moses offers no commentary on what is motivating Laban’s haste to catch Jacob, but is there really any mystery?

    • More than likely Laban intends to kill Jacob and take his daughters and the herd back

    • Jacob’s escape is reason enough in the ancient world for Laban to take this action, and he would love nothing better than to have an excuse to reclaim his herds

  • Before Laban reaches Jacob, the Lord appears in a dream to give Laban a warning

    • This is the first time we’ve seen the Lord appear to Laban and the second time in Scripture that we see the Lord speaking to an unbeliever

      • As such, it’s a remarkable moment, and it’s proof that saving faith isn’t simply a matter of knowing about God

      • Like Abimelech before him, Laban has come to know about the living God and even receive a vision from Him

      • Nevertheless, they remain outside God’s mercy since they have not received a promise and rested in it by faith

    • Instead of a promise, Laban is given a stern warning not to say anything good or bad to Jacob

      • This is a strange command

      • We might have expected God to say something like “don’t raise a hand against Jacob” or maybe “don’t say anything bad”

      • Why does God tell Laban not to say anything good to Jacob?

• God is intent on protecting Jacob, but he’s also intent on teaching Jacob a lesson along the way

  • The protection of God is evident in the instruction not to say anything bad

    • The command not to speak anything bad implies not doing anything bad either

    • A man’s word was his command, so Laban has been prohibited from commanding anything negative against Jacob

  • But the chastisement of the Lord will become evident in His second instruction that Laban say nothing positive either

    • Laban might have been inclined to make an offer to entice Jacob to return or to tempt Jacob to stay longer

    • God wants Jacob to rest entirely in His promises and not on the mercy of unbelievers

• So as Laban catches up, he gives Jacob a sob story of concern and hurt feelings

  • Laban says Jacob deceived him, which is true

    • And Jacob denied Laban the chance to say a proper good bye to his daughters, which is also true

  • Now it’s Laban’s turn to deceive

    • He says had he known of Jacob’s departure, he would have celebrated the event in songs of joy

    • Finally, Laban accuses Jacob of denying him the chance to kiss his daughters goodbye

  • After living with Laban for twenty years, Jacob wouldn’t have possibly been fooled by this show

    • But the show must go on, because saving face and posturing was built in to the culture

• Finally, Laban declares it is in his power to do harm to Jacob

  • The Hebrew word for harm is ra, which means evil or disaster

    • Clearly, this would have been Laban’s choice, by his own words

    • For if God had not stopped him, he would have gone forward in this act

  • Clearly, this man has understood the power of God

    • But notice he describes God as the God of your father in v.29

    • Laban hears from God, knows God’s power and obeys God, yet he doesn’t have a personal relationship with God 

James 2:19 You believe that God is one. You do well; the demons also believe, and shudder. 

• A relationship is based on more than knowing about God or even hearing from God or even conforming to God’s decrees

  • The demons do all these things at times but to no good outcome…they still shudder

  • The only test that matters is whether we have entered into a personal relationship with God

  • And only through a covenant can man have a saving relationship with God

• Here we see God acting according to His word through a covenant with Jacob to protect Jacob

  • God said:

Gen. 28:15 “Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.” 

• In v.19 we see God at work as Laban reveals that God is holding him back from bringing harm to Jacob

  • God’s protection is both a result of His promises and the natural consequences of Laban’s behavior

    • Laban’s hatred of Jacob and his poor treatment of Jacob have left God no choice but to bring calamity upon Laban

    • God’s word was to deliver Jacob back safely and to curse those who curse him

  • Jacob has done wrong things to Laban, but nothing in Jacob’s behavior could cause God to go back on His word

    • Nevertheless, Jacob has deceived Laban and his wife has stolen from Laban

    • And will God deal justly with these mistakes?