April 11, 2017
Please use the comment section on this page to share insights from today’s reading OR your own personal Bible reading.
Reading along with us in Genesis? Here’s today’s reading:
Genesis 31 (ESV)
Now Jacob heard that the sons of Laban were saying, “Jacob has taken all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has gained all this wealth.” 2 And Jacob saw that Laban did not regard him with favor as before. 3 Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.” 4 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah into the field where his flock was 5 and said to them, “I see that your father does not regard me with favor as he did before. But the God of my father has been with me. 6 You know that I have served your father with all my strength, 7 yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not permit him to harm me… Continue Reading
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After reading Genesis 31, I have more questions than answers.
While God commands Jacob to “return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you” in Genesis 31:3, I can’t help but wonder why Jacob felt the need to justify leaving to his wives in the context of how Laban was treating him?
Rachel and Leah’s response to Jacob shows that Laban’s wealth was now Jacob’s wealth. Why did they ask if there is “any portion or inheritance left to us in our father’s house” (Genesis 31:14) when their husband and the father of their children had what once belonged to their father Laban? Wouldn’t they in turn inherit or at least be blessed by Laban’s wealth through Jacob?
I also wonder why Rachel felt the need to steal what her father Laban considered gods? In Genesis 31:15, they say their father “sold them” so maybe stealing his gods was Rachel’s way of letting her father know how she felt about him and that she felt her inheritance was stolen from them? And why would they say he has “indeed devoured our money” when it was his money?
When Laban confronted Jacob after seven days of following after them, he speaks of Jacob tricking him by leaving secretly and not allowing him the privilege to send them off with “mirth and songs, with tambourine and lyre” and taking way his opportunity to say goodbye. But then, he mentioned the stolen “gods” and searches for them.
I can’t help but wonder if Laban would have searched for them if not for Rachel stealing these gods?
Perhaps this is why Laban thinks Jacob left secretly in and such a hurry and why he pursued them?
I have to think based on how Laban time after time changed the terms of their agreements, and Jacob complying with these changes, that Jacob wanted to leave without giving Laban another opportunity.
It was nice to read that Laban, in all his flaws, got to kiss his grandchildren and his daughters and bless them before returning home.
God said to Laban ” Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad. ” and Laban repeated what God told him in a dream and then did a lot to talking to Jacob when he caught up with him.😬But it all ended well with nice goodbyes and blessings to his daughters and grandkids.
Coincidentally (Holy Spirit direction?), I am studying in Hebrews 3. Using the precipice of the Promised Land and “entering rest”, the writer of Hebrews warns Hebrew believers to persevere in faith in Christ and not turn back to Judaism.
Just popping in to thank everyone who has been commenting on what they’re reading. I’ve not read God’s Word in several days and certainly feel the effects. I just read the comments from the past few days here and am encouraged to “eat”!! God bless you!
This family has trust issues
What makes you say that, Jim? 😉
Read chapter 30