April 26, 2024
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Reading along with us in Genesis? Here’s today’s reading:
Genesis 31 (NIV)
Jacob Flees From Laban
1 Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken everything our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.” 2 And Jacob noticed that Laban’s attitude toward him was not what it had been.……Continue Reading
Genesis 31
When Laban started treating Jacob differently he decide to take all that belonged to him and his wives and leave unknown to Laban right away. Before leaving, Rachel went to her father’s home and stole his gods and hid them in her camel back pack. When Laban caught up he said his gods were missing. Jacob gave permission to check everything. Rachel was sitting on her pack with the gods and said due to her female time could not get up.
I am thinking Leah must not have known what Rachel did because she could have got rid of Rachel.
Laban found nothing. Jacob reminded Laban all he had done an how many years he was indebted to. 20 yr total! Jacob said God saw what Laban was doing and rebuked Laban.They then made a covenant. After they ate together they
slept and Laban kissed his family goodbye. It was said they would not cross the line to harm one another and God would judge if this happened.
God stays true to the blessings he bestowed on Jacob from Issac.
Jacob has fled with his family, servants, and possessions without Laban knowing about it because he is afraid that Laban will take everything away from him even though he has earned it all. Laban has the power to do just that and catches up with Jacob. But before Laban confronts Jacob, God intervenes and in a dream, speaks to Laban. God tells him not to speak to Jacob either good or bad. Jacob has served 14 years for Laban`s two daughters and 6 more years for cattle, etc. And Laban kept changing the wages. Gen. 31:41. And as he tells Laban in v 42 { Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and rebuked thee yesternight.} I tend to believe that God knows the thought of Laban and all people. God probably wouldn`t have warned Laban if he meant good for Jacob. But at least they departed peacefully even though there was a heap of stones as a truce that the daughters wouldn`t be harmed and God was witness. Also that neither party would cross the line to the other side or they would be harmed. Jacob offered a sacrifice upon the mount and they ate bread. Laban and his crew went home the next day. Thank God for His intervening to spare Jacob. God was keeping His promise that He made to Abraham that they will be a great nation and they will be a blessing for God will bless them. Anyone or nation that attacks Israel will be eventually judged by God. This is what God promises in the Bible. With all that is happening against Israel in our present time makes me think about Armageddon. We know the rapture will come first and then the revealing of the Anti Christ but it sure seems that it may be sooner than we think. How much worse and evil can our world get? Come quickly Lord Jesus.
In my opinion a lot…but God knows…and still…come Lord Jesus!
Again God is using circumstance to move Jacob where He wanted him to be. For Jacob to hear this news of Laban’s son feeling resentment toward him and to have experienced the deception and constant struggle he faced working for Laban, when God says it is time to go he is quick to respond with a yes!
It doesn’t take much convincing for Leah and Rachel either. They figure any inheritance is dried up and clearly God is blessing Jacob where ever he goes so they follow the money. Rachel even takes a little something extra for her troubles by stealing her father’s god without Jacob’s knowledge. Laban’s family is certainly motivated by money and greed and unfortunately not by God.
However, even knowing it is God’s will for him to go and God’s promise of protection Jacob still feels like he needs to “help” God in ensuring his own safety and leaves quickly and without notice. Despite that God shows His protection again when He speaks to Laban in a dream to warn him not to hurt Jacob. Ultimately, they decide to peaceably part ways and put space between them and all because of God’s design and certainly not by the mess they make when they try to do things outside of God’s will.
Genesis 31
Revelation 1-22 (Independent Reading)
Genesis 32
Genesis 31
Pastor thanks for your corrections.
You’re welcome!
Genesis 31
I see a great example of conflict resolution. Laban and Jacob agree to disagree, Laban demands his daughters and children are his, they cannot leave him. Jacob insists he’s paid his debts graciously, and has the right to leave.
Compromise, where they linger to say their farewells. But before they do, they make a covenant together, one of peaceful reconciliation. Great job! -reb
Jacob flees Laban with all Jacob’s earned belongings.
Laban pursues Jacob.
They make a covenant with stones and a meal.
Dishonest relationships keep fostering bad things in miscommunication, manipulative communication and no communication. Both Jacob and Laban own the fact that Jacob can’t tell him he is leaving and there can be no real communication of what is right that should be taken because both parties would be looking out for themselves. God does show Jacob that it was His working that made the sheep prosper in the way they did and Jacob has worked hard and God has blessed him in opposition to Laban. God shows His commitment to keep Jacob and his family safe by sending Laban a dream. And Rachel has learned well from her father and husband how to lie and steal. But Jacob does have a chance to explain and defend himself and point to the blessing of God on his life. So a covenant is struck between Laban and Jacob, but how good is a covenant between two deceivers and manipulators? It just reenforces how important it is for us to be honest in our lives. And the one thing that makes this covenant different is because God is involved and because Jacob may be maturing in his walk with Him.
Genesis 31