September 3, 2023
Reading: Genesis 31
Focus: Genesis 31:17-18 – 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.
Father God, Thank You for the blessings of this day. Open our hearts to Your word. Help us to see what You want us to see. In Jesus Name, Amen.
Jacob has been working for Laban for at least 20 years. He worked 14 years for his wives as his wages. The next 6 or so, he’s worked for spotted, streaked and speckled sheep and goats. Even then, Laban tried to find ways to prevent Jacob from receiving the agreed upon wages. The chapter tells us that Laban changed Jacob’s wages at least 10 times. Laban had profited greatly while Jacob worked for him. For as long as Jacob prospered, Laban prospered. Laban’s sons became jealous and believed that Jacob was stealing from Laban.
Now, when we look at Jacob, we see a different man. Remember what he was like when he took Esau’s birthright and his blessing? He was greedy and grasping. He was willing to use whatever it took to get what he wanted. Laban deceived him by taking the male goats that were spotted, speckled and streaked and sent them three days away from the rest of the flock, in the attempt to prevent Jacob from gaining many flocks. I can’t tell you if Jacob knew how to breed animals to produce the fleeces that he wanted but he knew something about it because he succeeded. His breeding program produced strong, healthy spotted, speckles and striped sheep and goats without the males that Laban had sent away. He also used herbal medicines to ensure the health of his flocks. By this point, Jacob was a changed man.
Now he was patient, long-suffering and forbearing. He had waited 20 years to get to a point where he was a wealthy man. Now, he wanted to return to the land where Isaac lived. He spoke to Rachel and Leah and laid it all out to them. He had worked with all he had for Laban and Laban cheated him with his wages, to keep Jacob under his thumb. God spoke to Jacob and said He had seen all that Laban had done to him. Then He told him to “ . . . leave this land at once and go back to your native land.” (Genesis 31:13). Rache and Leah were in agreement. They had seen what their father was doing and felt as if they had been sold and were treated as foreigners. They said, “So do whatever God has told you.” (Genesis 31:16)
Jacob packed up all he had, put his wives and children on camels and drove all his livestock away from Laban and his home without even telling him they were leaving. Laban was not even at home when he left. Before they left, Rachel took all Laban’s household gods. Where Laban lived, household gods were a normal part of life. The people were not God-fearing as Jacob and his family were. These idols were wood or metal and were called teraphim. People believed they protected them and their households. They also had a legal significance. The person who had them could claim the lion’s share of inheritance. I don’t know if Rachel took them so that her and Leah’s children would share in any inheritance from Laban or if she was afraid that Laban would consult them to find out where they had all gone, but she took them.
Laban didn’t know that Jacob and his family had left until three days after the fact. He gathered his clansmen and took off after them. It took them another seven days to catch up to them. The commentaries tell us that the distance between Haran and Gilead, where Laban caught up with them, is about 300 miles. That’s a lot of travel. Remember that Jacob had wives, children, servants and massive flocks and herds with him. For him, it was slow going and Laban was traveling light. The night before Laban found them, God spoke to him in a dream and warned him not say anything good or bad to Jacob. I am not sure exactly what this means but it seems to me that God was warning not to tempt him or threaten him in any way to return to Haran. And apparently Laban took that to heart because he did neither. What he did say was that he had every right to harm him but God had forbidden him to do so. He complained that Jacob had deceived him by running off in secret. He also accused Jacob of stealing his household gods.
Jacob replied that he feared what Laban would do if he told him he wanted to leave. He also swore that he did not have Laban’s household gods and said that the one who had them would die. He KNEW that they did not have them. But he was wrong. He offered the Laban the freedom to search the camp. Laban went from tent to tent. In Rachel’s tent, she was sitting on the saddle where she had hidden the idols and stated that she could not stand in his presence because of her period. Good excuse, huh? So, Laban did not find his household gods.
Then Jacob tore a strip off old Laban and told him off. Jacob laid out all that had been done to him over his twenty years of service to Laban. He told of healthy flocks and that he had not taken even one of Laban’s animals to eat. He reminded him that any losses that Laban had because of stolen animals were paid for by Jacob. Any animals killed by wild animals were replaced from Jacob’s flocks. Jacob pointed out that he had slaved in Laban’s service for 20 years and that if God had not been with him, he would have been sent away empty handed but God had warned Laban not to harm Jacob. Laban attempted to lay claim to Jacob’s wives and children and to all of his flocks but realized he could do nothing but release them to Jacob. So, he proposed a covenant.
Jacob set up a pillar, and Laban gathered stones into a heap to mark the place where this covenant was made. Laban and Jacob each had a specific name for the two markers. That heap of stones is also called Mizpah. If you have ever given or received a Mizpah coin, or half on one, this is where the saying on the coin came from. “The Lord watch between thee and me, while we are absent one from another.” (Genesis 31:49). Laban called God as a witness to the covenant. Neither one would go past the place to harm the other. Jacob offered a sacrifice to God there and both sides sat down to a meal. The next morning, Laban bid farewell to his daughters and grandchildren and returned home.
It took Jacob 20 years to grow into a man that was patient and long-suffering. He took unfair wages, unfair wage cuts and unfair treatment but persevered. He did more than was expected of him. And it all paid off in the long run. God blessed him. His flocks multiplied which meant his wealth multiplied. Here’s what we can learn from Jacob. Doing more that is expected will pay off. First, it pleases God and you grow in spiritual maturity. Recognition and advancement are earned and you are known as an honest, ethical worker. People have confidence in you and your abilities. You learn as you work because more responsibilities and tasks are given to you.
In Jacob’s patience and long suffering, we can see Jesus. Jesus took a lot of flak from the religious leaders of His day. He was accused many times of blasphemy but when He could have destroyed them with a word, He never lashed out at his accusers. He was tried before three different courts. Not to mention that at least one of those trials was blatantly illegal. He never said a word unless asked a specific question. The “witnesses” against Him lied. The religious leaders of the day lied about Him to the political leaders of the day. He could have called on the Legions of Heaven to destroy humanity but instead He shed His blood as the penalty for our sin because He loved humanity. No, Jacob did not die in someone else’s place but his patience and long-suffering while working for Laban reflects Jesus.
Can you do the same?
Father God. Thank you for this reflection of Jesus in Jacob’s life. Help us to be patient, long suffering and humble in the face of being wronged. Help us to do more that is required. To show You to others in how we work. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Food for Thought
- Do you think that Jacob ever wanted to take revenge on Laban for his deceitful treatment? Why or why not?
- Besides the household gods, why do you think Laban chased Jacob?
- Do you think that Rachel and Leah knew just how bad their father was treating Jacob? Why or why not?
- Have you ever been treated unfairly at work? What did you do about it?
- Do you think that retaliating is ever the right thing to do in a situation where you are treated unfairly? Why or why not?
