Jacob-His "Mizpah” Moment Series

Introduction: Have you seen anyone wearing a “Mizpah” necklace recently? These items come and go in popularity and I frankly haven’t seen any of these in quite a while. But some time ago, these items were popular. They came as a pair of necklaces, and on each necklace there was a piece of a coin or medallion with half of this verse on each piece: “The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another (Genesis 31:49)”. I’ve never owned any of these, but it’s a good sentiment—except for one thing: this verse was never meant as a blessing!

It was almost a threat!

Let’s take a deeper look at Jacob’s “Mizpah moment”.

1 It started with a chase

Text: Genesis 31:22-25, KJV: 22 And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled. 23 And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead. 24 And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. 25 Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.

In the context, Jacob had kept his flocks and herds a three-day journey or distance from Laban’s livestock. Jacob had come to realize that it was time for him to leave Laban’s land (after 20 years!) and God’s message was confirmation enough. Without telling Laban anything, Jacob took his entire entourage (family, servants, livestock and who knows what else) and began the journey back to his homeland.

Now one of the Bible’s famous snitches informed Laban that Jacob “was fled” or, to put it more smoothly, had fled, leaving Laban behind for good (so some would say). Once he heard about this, Laban took his “brethren”, which could be close family or those of his household, and gave chase trying to catch up with Jacob. And catch Jacob, he did, right at Mount Gilead, which was Jacob’s destination (Genesis 31:21).

We’ll never be sure what Laban was thinking about saying when he met Jacob after a week’s long what could have been a wild goose chase. Part of this stems from God’s warning to Laban—in a dream! This wasn’t the first time God had spoken to someone who wasn’t a descendant of Abraham. God had also spoken to Abimelech, king of Gerar (Philistine land in those days) and told that man plainly, “You’re a dead man” if he continued with his plan to keep Sarah in his household. One wonders what Abimelech wanted with a woman as old as Sarah (she was 90! See Genesis 17:17). Regardless, God stepped in and overruled any and all of Abimelech’s plans (see Genesis 20 for the story).

I have to confess that the words of God to Laban are easy to hear and understand, but very difficult to follow! The people with Laban and Laban himself set up camp in the same general area as Jacob.

The chase was over. Now what was Laban going to say—or do?

2 It continued with a challenge

Text, Genesis 31:26-35, KJV: 26 And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword? 27 Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp? 28 And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing. 29 It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. 30 And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods? 31 And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me. 32 With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them. 33 And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maidservants' tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent. 34 Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not. 35 And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched, but found not the images.