Courage to Leave, Forgive and Love
Genesis 31:1-55
A. The Separation
B. The Reunion and Reconcilliation
Have you ever had to leave a place of comfort and immense joy for you?
A place where maybe you have had your children, lost loved ones, met your spouse?
A place that you have worked, sweated, and pained over?
I know that a lot of our native people from “bush” Alaska feel that the only places they are able to put their educational skills to use are in the Urban areas.
I have such a hard time going into Anchorage, driving with all of those people around me, dealing with the amount of people even in the stores is shocking after being in Dillingham for 5 years. It is a lot like the community in south Louisiana that I was raised in, and I like the small town feeling. However, Gloria was born in Pasig, Manila, Phillipines and had only lived in cities her whole life. It took a deal of courage and faith in the calling of Christ on our lives to come out to Dillingham. Not that she had anything at all against Dillingham—but up to that point in her life she had never really lived in a rural setting. We will see Jacob decide to leave a place that has held some comforts and victories over the past approximately 20 years. The same place held angers over being deceived, maltreatment by family, love of family, and the promise of God. Jacob just decided to continue his walk with God and God clearly leads him in the direction of his home. Are you willing today to be led to whatever “home” God may have in store for you and your family?
The Separation
Genesis 311-16
1And he heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father’s; and of that which was our father’s hath he gotten all this glory. 2And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before. 3And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee. 4And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock, 5And said unto them, I see your father’s countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me. 6And ye know that with all my power I have served your father. 7And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me. 8If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstreaked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstreaked. 9Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me. 10And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstreaked, speckled, and grisled. 11And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I. 12And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstreaked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee. 13I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred. 14And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house? 15Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money. 16For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children’s: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.
Jacob had many reasons to separate and leave Laban.
Laban and his son’s resentment (v 1,2)
God’s revelation (v 3,13)
Reassurance (peace with decision) of the family (v14-16)
Laban changing his wages over 10 times (v 7,41)
Jacob flees from wicked Laban responding to the leading of God’s orders.
There comes a time when righteous people must leave the presence of bad company or become embroiled in their darkness. This law of self-preservation calls people to do things which may not make sense to bosses like Laban regardless of the explanation.
Jacob knew that if he did not depart secretly Laban would have done everything to hinder his progress. However, Rachel was not honest like her husband because she stole Laban’s false idols, greatly angering her Father.
We as Christians must come to know it is never right to do wrong for wrong thinking one can return evil for evil. Vengeance is mine sayeth the Lord. It is for God to meet out punishment at the proper time and way.
The Reunion and Reconciliation
17-42
17Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels; 18And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan. 19And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father’s. 20And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled. 21So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead. 22And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled. 23And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days’ journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead. 24And 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.
25Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead. 26And 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? 27Wherefore 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? 28And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing. 29It 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. 30And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father’s house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods? 31And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me. 32With 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. 33And 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. 34Now 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. 35And 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.
36And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me? 37Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both. 38This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten. 39That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night. 40Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes. 41Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times. 42Except 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 the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.
In this instance God intervened and rebuked Laban and sheltered Jacob telling Laban not to speak to him with either good or bad. (Gen 31:24)
Have you ever found yourself in what seemed an impossible situation that the only place you can turn is to God?
I pray that you found God is able to speak to the wicked in their dreams or in their conscience to chasten them to enable a saints life to be at peace.
Laban shows his evil character by immediately pursing Jacob to put him in bondage. Evil men are not content to slander the righteous person’s reputation. Laban wanted to totally subjugate Jacob in everyway.
Do not fear the wicked, but continue in reverent fear of God. The Bible assures us that the wicked will flee when no one is pursuing, but the righteous are as bold as a lion. Know that believers have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-discipline. (2 Tim. 1:7)
Laban spoke harshly to Jacob saying, “You have done a foolish thing. I have the power to harm you, but last night the God of your father said to me, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.” (Gen. 31:38)
Wicked people think they have great power, but they forget that they have nothing other than what the Lord temporarily allows them to possess. Remember Jesus Christ told Pilate, “You have no power other than what has been given to you from above.”
Do not fear the wicked since God is the ruler of everyone.
It is expected for malicious people to pretend that they planned everything but we should know they planned nothing that was righteous and just. When they are not able to succeed in their evil ways they will insist that they never intended to do any harm in the first place. They feel that they can deceive men, but God is never deceived.
They will bear the full measure of their sin. God admonishes all, “Be sure that your sin will find you out.”
Mean people are most likely to try to disgrace good people with evil insinuations. Do not listen to their empty lies as they will lead to nothing but eternal harm for you.
God is able to stifle, frustrate and chasten the wicked that abuse the righteous. David wrote, “He prepares a table before me in the presence of my enemies. He anoints my head with oil. My cup overflows. Surely, goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life.” (Psa. 23:5,6)
Learn to develop a thick shield of faith that can protect you from their evil attempts to place wrong deeds upon you. Oppressive people hate to admit that they are wrong or have made mistakes because of their foolish pride. Those who tend to be unfair in little things are usually oppressive when they are given greater power. Be careful of who you choose to work for as there is a tendency to become like those we associate ourselves with.
Jacob teaches us how to forbear under persecution for the sake of our godly testimony. Instead of fighting Laban, Jacob speaks patiently, graciously and cooperatively with his father-in-law.
Learn to be bigger than the problem person by reacting as Christ would. When you are falsely accused trust the Lord to give you the strength to bear up under false accusations. The Lord will rescue and deliver you from every difficulty. It is great comfort to know that we have a clear conscience even if no one else understands our innocence. God will vindicate the righteous in the proper time.
Do not take vengeance into your own hands, but leave that for the proper authority--the wrath of God. In fact, if your enemy is hungry, feed him. If your oppressor is thirsty give him something to drink for you will add greater conviction to him by your good deeds.
Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay, says the Lord.” (Rom. 12:19)
43-55
43And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born? 44Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee. 45And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar. 46And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap. 47And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed. 48And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed; 49And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another. 50If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee. 51And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee; 52This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm. 53The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac. 54Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount. 55And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his place.
Laban states that all that Jacob took really belonged to Laban—but what could he do to resist?
Rachael’s deception did not allow Laban to retrieve his household gods, the least Laban can do is to make a covenant with Jacob which would guarantee that he will never make use of those gods to further encroach upon Laban’s possessions in the future.
Notice the treaty is initiated by Laban and that its terms are spelled out by him. Since Laban has not succeeded in holding Jacob in check, due to the immense blessings of Jacob’s God, Laban now calls upon Jacob’s God to do so.
A stone was set up as a pillar (v 45), and a pile of stones was erected as a monument (v 46). Also, a covenant meal was shared by Jacob and Laban and the other relatives (v 54). Laban and Jacob agreed before God to several particulars.
First, Jacob promised never to mistreat Laban’s daughters and never to take any other wives in addition to them (v 50).
Second, each covenanted that they would not pass that point to harm the other (v 52).
After having agreed to these matters, Laban said a last farewell to his daughters and their children. Blessing them, Laban returned to his home (v 55) and Jacob to his home with his family and his possessions which were secured under the Promise of God.
How is it that we are able to share in this promise?
Well first and foremost is the necessity to “be a child of God”. If you have not confessed that you are a sinner, unworthy, unclean before our righteous God—then you must. After this you must call upon Jesus Christ our Lord to come into your life and to lead you in your new life with him. As with Jacob here, we see God’s promise and Jacob’s early deception. But we have seen Jacob growing to view the deceptiveness of Laban as contrary to the very promises of God, and walking daily in a manner more representative of a man of God. This is God’s true desire that we learn to walk more like Jesus daily. The only way we can truly do this is to be in daily study of his word and meditating on the thing of God.
If you have any prayer needs of concerns please let us know, we would love to pray for you.
Closing Prayer.
