I once worked at a grocery store which employed a truck-driver and while his instructions were basically to get a load from point A to point B he felt on occasion that in order to meet a deadline he would have to speed or otherwise break a few laws. Yet the double edge to the sword was if he got speeding tickets he would become uninsurable and lose his job. Obviously Delbert thought he had to be careful. From my perspective he apparently opted rather to obey the laws and to show up late whenever the dilemma came. Obviously, this occasionally created some level of problems as from time to time obedience to the law meant offending nearly every one of us who were waiting for his delivery.
We’ve talked before about this concept that sometimes obedience to Jesus means an offense to the world. However, it’s not always necessary to create a problem in our obedience. Romans 12:18 says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” In no way does that mean that we can compromise our integrity or bend the word of God to fit our circumstance and make people like us. But it does mean that we have to be careful how we obey.
Tonight, as we continue in Genesis 31 with the life of Jacob we have an example of an instance in Jacob’s life where his failure to guard how he obeyed created a bigger problem than the one he thought he had avoided. Please turn to and read Genesis 31:22-55.
1 Jacobs Deception vv 20-22
He deceived Laban. Remember Jacob got into this whole mess with Laban because he had deceived his brother, and his father and now he’s trying once again to do things his way. But mark first that this time he probably thinks that he’s following orders. If you look back to the 11th verse it’s clear that God has told Jacob to return to Canaan and yet Jacob – I think unwisely – opts to deceive when he leaves.
2 God’s Interception vv 22-24
When Laban find’s out he gives chase to Jacob together with a number of his men including his sons more than likely and it’s apparent that he’s coming with vengeance in mind because God has to stop him.
God’s appearance does not somehow verify that Jacob was doing everything right as soon as we see that we’re prepared to make applications from the passage. The application certainly isn’t “deceive your enemies” God told Jacob to go home true enough but he didn’t instruct Jacob to flee under cover of deception. He came to Laban in order to protect Jacob because Jacob had been chosen, not because Jacob was worthy of protection.
God told Laban not to say anything bad to Jacob this was to protect Laban as God had already said "those that bless you I will bless, and those that curse you I will curse." So God endeavored here to protect Laban from forcing God to curse him if he cursed Jacob.
On the other hand God also warned Laban to say nothing Good to Jacob - perhaps this was to protect Laban from saying something he knew wasn’t true but probably more to protect Jacob from thinking that he had been justified in his deception of Laban (by fleeing).
Thus the command to say nothing good or bad was a referent to the extremes of blessing or of cursing. Don’t bless Jacob (I’m assuming because Jacob didn’t deserve to be blessed) and don’t curse him either (because God didn’t want to have to curse Laban). I’m convinced this is an act of mercy to Laban - who himself had been merciless in his treatment of Jacob.
God is merciful even to those who are not his promised people. That is why we are here as Gentiles who worship God in Christ Jesus. We’ve received his mercy.
3 Laban’s confrontation vv 22-30
In the 25th verse Laban finally catches up with Jacob. The idea behind the way the phrase is written is to intentionally show that they both put up camp in the same aproximate location. It also allows for the action that takes place in the next verse. In a way it is a perfect transition from the chase to Laban’s confrontation
This confrontation probably took place as the two companies were errecting tents in the end of the day.
The literal hebrew behind the complaint "You’ve decieved me" is "and you have stolen my heart". We would understand this a bit different from our perspective but Hebraicly it’s a reference to his trust in Jacob being broken. Laban’s heart trusted Jacob and Jacob’s actions have broken that sacred trust. The so called "captivity" of his daughters doesn’t indicate that they were bound captives but is an indication of the hurry with which Jacob left.
Laban’s words are harsh and I have no doubt they are harshly spoken - and Laban’s explanation of God’s appearance lends credence that God’s prohibition against speaking good or bad to Jacob doesn’t include angry words but is instead a referent to a curse or a blessing.
Further Laban’s insistance that he has the power to harm Jacob probably means that he planned just that. If God had not stopped Laban he may well have attacked Jacob for the afront of ignoring his parental (and grand-parental) role.
But finally Laban get’s to the point that really bothered him, apparently more than his daughters and grandkids: the idols.
“Possession of these household gods implied leadership of the family, and, in the case of a married daughter, assured her husband the right of the father’s property. Since Laban had sons of his own when Jacob fled to Canaan, they alone had the right to their father’s teraphim. Rachel’s theft was therefore a serious matter, aimed at preserving for her husband the chief title to Laban’s estate.”
4 Jacob’s explanation vv 31-32
Jacob’s explanation turns away from his fear and he angrily makes an oath condemning the thief to death. The statement that he didn’t know that Rachel was the thief is important to the story because it helps to explain not only his innocence in the matter but also what happens next.
5 Laban’s Investigation vv 33-35
We’re supossed to feel tension at the end of verse 33 as Laban enters Rachel’s tent because we know she has the idols and we suspect that Laban is about to find them. But she’s a tricky one and whether it’s true or not, we’re not told she uses the ceremonial uncleaness of her period to keep them hid.
6 Jacob’s Irritation vv 36-42
But when Laban finds nothing, Jacob’s blood boils over and he finally tells Laban what he thinks of his so called “deep family loyalty”. His angry reply comes from years of having served well. now in the midst of this heated debate the issue comes to the forefront:
Laban feels as though Jacob has broken trust, and Jacob reacts by pointing out his own faithfullness and Laban’s dishonesty.
Genesis 31:41-42 "These twenty years I have been in your house; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters and six years for your flock, and you changed my wages ten times. "If the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had not been for me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God has seen my affliction and the toil of my hands, so He rendered judgment last night."
I’ve always been captivated by the special title given to the Lord here. He is not only the God of Abraham and Isaac, but he is the fear of Isaac. I’ve loved that name as it seems to recapture the proper awe for our God that we all to often lose. but Isaac apparently didn’t lose that awe. He understood who and how powerful the Almighty God is. At any rate Jacob’s rebuke now turns to self-justification as he places God’s warning to Laban in a light that solely favors him.
The reality of the situation is that both men have proven deceptive and yet both men feel as if they are the ones who have been wronged. Laban’s reply shows his resignation and paves the way for an uneasy resolution.
7 An uneasy resolution vv 43-55
Laban’s reply is week and feeble. His heart has FINALLY been broken in the sense that we understand it. Mean as he was he understood that the discussion was over and he had lost, but still in his eyes Jacob’s actions had proven he was untrustworthy. So he does what he feels he must and he institutes a covenant of peace between them; yet it’s clear that it’s an uneasy resolution.
I’ve seen these little coins that couples will keep that have a segment of verse 49 on it, “Genesis 31:49 "May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other.” It always makes me cringe because I know the context of the verse is one of deep mistrust brought on by perceived faithlessness – hardly a good foundation for a solid relationship.
That’s the price Jacob has to pay. His careless obedience to the letter of God’s command to return without taking his testimony or God’s character into consideration has permanently fractured any hope of a sound relationship with his Father-in-law.
As we see in God’s word a mandate or a call to obedience, we must as far as it is possible live at peace with all men as we obey our God. Let the cross offend them – but we never should.
