Obey the LORD — Faves of Dave - Bible Study

Gen. 31:1 Now Jacob heard that the sons of Laban were saying, “Jacob has taken all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has gained all this wealth.” 2 And Jacob saw that Laban did not regard him with favor as before. 3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”

Gen. 31:4 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah into the field where his flock was 5 and said to them, “I see that your father does not regard me with favor as he did before. But the God of my father has been with me. 6 You know that I have served your father with all my strength, 7 yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not permit him to harm me. 8 If he said, ‘The spotted shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore spotted; and if he said, ‘The striped shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore striped. 9 Thus God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me. 10 In the breeding season of the flock I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream that the goats that mated with the flock were striped, spotted, and mottled. 11 Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am!’ 12 And he said, ‘Lift up your eyes and see, all the goats that mate with the flock are striped, spotted, and mottled, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now arise, go out from this land and return to the land of your kindred.’” 14 Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there any portion or inheritance left to us in our father’s house? 15 Are we not regarded by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and he has indeed devoured our money. 16 All the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do.”

In our last episode, we saw how the seed of a new conflict had been sown with Laban removing the spotted, striped, and other sheep and goats that would belong to Jacob according to the agreement between Laban and Jacob. Laban was trying to cheat Jacob out of his portion of the livestock in the hope that it would force Jacob to continue working for him. Leaving Jacob with only the majority of solid-colored sheep and goats, Jacob put peeled sticks near water troughs where the animals would breed in the belief that the visual element of the striped or speckled sticks would affect the coats of the offspring. I’m highly suspicious of the efficacy of such an approach. But I think ultimately, Jacob was trusting the LORD to give him sheep and goats. This section affirms that the LORD did give him bountiful livestock and wealth and that Jacob acknowledges that it all came from the LORD.

This story continues with a rise in the conflict. Jacob hears Laban’s sons complaining that Jacob has essentially stolen all their livestock and family wealth and that his favor with Laban is on the decline. How ironic! Laban had already confessed that his success had been due to the LORD’s presence with Jacob. He then stole from Jacob the animals that they’d agreed would be Jacob’s. Now, he and his sons are blaming Jacob for what they were guilty of themselves.

Jacob now receives a message from the LORD to go home and an affirmation that the LORD will be with him. In other words, the LORD is showing Jacob that he is in control, will fulfill all the promises he’s made to him, and will protect him.

What I love about the Scriptures is that they don’t portray the main characters as people with superpowers. Instead, they often display their humanity. When we read about their thoughts, words, and actions, we realize they are not so different from us. Jacob understands that he has to get his wives on board with his exit plan. He’s asking that they leave their home, and he’s not sure how that’s going to sit with them. Given their own conflict between themselves over Jacob’s attention, this could be another opportunity for one or both of them to create a problem.

He gave an account of the history between him and Laban and how Laban had cheated him multiple times. More importantly, Jacob tells them what God has done. God has been with him (v. 5), God has protected him (v. 7), and God (not Jacob) has taken away Laban’s flocks and given them to Jacob (v.9). He continues to explain what God has done and is directing him to leave.

What is their response? “Whatever God has said to you, do” (v. 16). Wow! Talk about a miracle. They are in full agreement. It’s clear from the text that they have their own well-being in mind because of how the LORD has dealt with Laban and Jacob both. They have the sense that it’s better for them to go with the man to whom God has shown favor. I can’t help but believe that God has used their own need of self-preservation to confess truth, that Jacob should obey the LORD.

What we witness in this story is how the promise God made to Abraham is continuing to be fulfilled exactly as the LORD had promised. God’s promise to bless those who bless you and curse those who curse you (Gen 12:3) is bearing itself out again in Jacob’s life. God’s promises to Jacob as he left home are being fulfilled exactly as the LORD had promised. God is faithful to his word.