Year 1, Day 30: Genesis 31

Trouble Comes From Human Influence

The trouble begins.  Notice that the trouble starts ultimately out of deception.  Laban’s kids look around and see what Jacob has done to their flock.  Unfortunately, from a reading of the Bible in the prior chapter I have to say that it really seems like they have a legitimate beef against Jacob.  Jacob actively worked so that what was Laban’s wealth would become his own.

For the record, this isn’t a one-sided fight.  Laban is just as guilty as Jacob.  Laban did out-maneuver Jacob in Genesis 30:35-36 by removing the striped and speckled sheep from the flock once the deal was made.  Both Laban and Jacob are guilty of self-centered thinking.

This does not change the fact that Jacob responded with deception of his own.  As I said yesterday, what we see here is a family dysfunction that is growing by leaps and bounds.  Laban has cheated Jacob and out-maneuvered him; now Jacob has done the same to Laban and one-upped his father-in-law.  There is no community or fellowship between them.  They have let their wealth, their pride, and their worldly-focus destroy the community around them.  The world comes between them.  The influence of the world becomes them.

Etching Away at Jacob’s Character

Jacob decides to leave.  There is something that really bothers me about this passage – about the character of Jacob up to this point.  In Genesis 31:3 we clearly hear God say “Return home, and I will be with you.”  Now I understand that the word “will” in English can mean both “In the future I will be with you” as well as “I shall be with you.”  But in no case is God here making a claim on whether or not He is the reason for Jacob’s prospering.  God is saying to Jacob, “If you go home, we will be in relationship.” 

I really think God is trying to get Jacob out of the dysfunction of his relationship with Laban.  God isn’t making a claim that He is responsible for Jacob’s blessing; God is attempting to get Jacob back into a place of proper influence so that He can start working on Jacob’s character!  God is trying to get Jacob alone where He can deal with Jacob because Jacob needs some work.  We will see that over the next few days.  God’s words to Jacob speak about a promise that looks ahead.

However, look at what Jacob claims in Genesis 31:5.  Jacob says “God has been with me.”  Notice the change in verb tense?  Jacob has inherently changed God’s declaration to him.  Jacob the deceiver has come out again.

Don’t get me wrong.  God has been with him.  God has allowed him to prosper regardless of whether Jacob was doing it for the right reasons or for worldly reasons.  God has allowed him to have sons regardless of the fact that he technically has four wives.  Remember the point I made yesterday.  Prosperity is not a sign of God’s favor, it is a sign of God’s generosity whether we deserve it – or more likely – don’t.  Here in Jacob’s words I see deception coming through.  Jacob wants to spin God’s words favorably to his own cause.

Jacob’s Flight

The deception grows.  Jacob leaves without saying goodbye.  I find this in horrible contrast to the shrewdness in which he came.  In Genesis 29 we saw Jacob coming openly, helping out the community, and honestly discussing the true reason he came.  I think Jacob came sincerely and in a manner displaying God’s righteousness.  But Jacob stayed too long.  He came for a wife, and landed four.  He was out-maneuvered by Laban and I honestly think he voluntarily stayed long enough to make sure he could get Laban back.  He was sent for a wife, he stayed for wives and wealth.  Because of this, he is forced to sneak out of town.  He leaves with his tail between his legs, like a fox slipping out the back of a chicken coop.

What’s worse is that Jacob’s deceptive behavior has already taken root in Rachel.  Although, let’s also not forget that Laban has shown himself a good deceiver and Rachel likely learned from him as well.  Rachel has seen her husband steal her father’s flocks, so now Rachel steals her father’s household gods.  Between the missing gods and the sudden disappearance, I think Laban has a right to come out looking for Jacob.

Laban’s Household Gods

Let’s look at these household gods. 

• In one perspective, the household gods are a sign of pagan worship.  So what we see here is Rachel bringing pagan influence into the house the God is trying to establish. 
• From a second perspective, the household gods were thought to be protection of the land.  Therefore, Rachel is attempting to bring the protection Laban experienced with her.  This is a protection from a source other than God, mind you. 
• Third, and perhaps most importantly, the household gods were often a proof of land ownership.  It is likely that when Rachel steals Laban’s household gods she is setting up the possibility for Jacob to return at a later date and have reason to lay claim to Laban’s land.  When Laban cannot find the gods that were stolen from him, he has to participate in erecting a stone monument so that Jacob will not cross back over into Laban’s territory and claim what is rightfully Laban’s.

Laban and Jacob Meet

When they meet, I find Jacob simply pathetic.  God has caught Jacob in his own destructive behavior.  Yes, God did provide for Jacob to come out alive by talking with Laban the night before.  But what does Jacob do?  He arrogantly proclaims there could be no fault.  He denies that the household gods were stolen.  When Laban cannot find the gods, Jacob turns that event into a reason to denounce Laban and bring out the full tally of accusation.  Note that in no way does he even confess his own participation in the dysfunctional family.  Then he is so bold as to take the misconstruing of God’s promise in Genesis 31:3 even further and claim that God saw Jacob’s affliction and rebuked Laban.

Unfortunately for Jacob, I see things the other way around.  God has trapped Jacob in his lies and in his deceit.  God has forced Jacob to come out and publically be the deceiver that he is.  Even as Jacob sets up this big bravado and displays his false wound, God has Jacob right where he needs him.

Do you see what ultimately saves the situation?  Jacob and Laban both know that Laban could take back what was taken from him.  What saves the situation is Laban’s love for his daughters.  Laban finally discovers that his love for his daughters is more important than his love for his stuff.  And so although he has all the power, Laban releases them.  God has provided, but look at the mess Jacob has gotten himself into.  Look at the hole that he has dug for himself.  His character is in desperate need of fixing.

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