"Greetings in the Name of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"
Today's Blog Title: "Laban Pursues Jacob"
Today's Scripture Reading: Genesis 31:22-42
Today's Key Verse: Genesis 31:24 "But God had come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, "Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.''
Today is part 2 of 3 parts of Chapter 31. Yesterday, you may remember that God had told Jacob to arise and head back home. Jacob packed his family, his possessions and his livestock and took off to Canaan, unaware that Rachel had taken Laban's idol(s)
We are told in verse 22, that Jacob had been gone now for 3 days before Laban was told that Jacob had fled. Laban then took men and went after Jacob, and on the 7th day caught up with him. Since Jacob had his entire family, possessions and livestock with him, it wasn't to hard to find him, or even to catch up with him.
We see that in verse 24, that God had come to Laban in a dream, and had warned Laban to speak neither good or bad to Jacob. We have seen so far through this study, that God had warned Abimelech (Genesis 20:3,6), and now Laban not to harm His people.
Laban when talking to Jacob in verse 26 says to him, "Why have you taken my daughters and grandchildren away like a raiding party taking captives?" He then tells Jacob (verse 27), I MIGHT have send you away with joy, and songs and you didn't even allow me the chance to kiss my daughters or grandchildren goodbye.
In verse 29, Laban tells Jacob that God had spoken to him about dealing with him (Only God's warning stilled Laban's rage) . Laban speaks as if he understands the need for Jacob to to go back home but asks the question, "But why did you steal my god's (Idol(s))?"
Jacob then tells Laban that he left in secret, because he was concerned that Laban would not let him leave with his family. Jacob then declares his family innocent of the stealing of the idol(s),
not knowing that Rachel had taken them. But Laban was certain that Jacob that stolen them, and beings his search in Jacob's tent. The last tent to search was Rachel's. We will note here the fact that Rachel had her own tent, which would indicate that Jacob was a man of wealth. Rachel had hidden the idol(s) in her saddle bags and was sitting on them when her father came into her tent. When she did not get up, she told her father that she could not rise because it was her time of the month, and Laban did not ask Rachel to move because of a male taboo respecting a woman who was experiencing her monthly period.
Jacob, when Laban was done searching Rachel's tent recited the grief and misery that he had to deal with working for him. He wants to know, what he had ever done to Laban, that would warrant his pursuing him and his family. Jacob had made his point clear not only to Laban, but before his Laban's own men. We see Jacob continuing in verses 38-41, to tell Laban how he had served Laban for 14 years for his two wives, and then another 6 years of tending his flocks. Jacob also affirmed here, his superior skills in managing the herds and God's blessings. He tells him that he has never eaten of his flock, and whenever any of his Laban's flock were killed by beasts of the field, he would replace them with sheep or goats from his flock, and furthermore Jacob described the seasonal discomforts that he had suffered while working for him.
In the closing verse of part 2 of this Chapter, Jacob tells Laban that if not for the fact that God was with him, he would have sent him away empty handed. The Fear of Isaac, would mean that Isaac(Jacob's father), feared God with a reverential awe. Jacob tells Laban, that God has seen the affliction that Laban had laid upon him, and the labor of his hands and that was why God had rebuked him in his dream.
Today's Closing Question and Comment: "How do you handle a situation where someone accuses you of doing something that you did not do?" Jacob had been done for three days before Laban found out that Jacob had packed up and left without even a goodbye. It took him 7 days to catch up with Jacob. Laban seems to more upset about the stolen idol(s), than the fact that Jacob had left. Jacob was angry that Laban had pursued him like a common thief, and when the idol(s) weren't found (because of Rachel sitting on them), he then lectures Laban about how he has treated him for the 20 years he had been there.
He basically tells him that if were not for God being with Jacob, Laban would have left him empty handed and you may remember in Genesis 30:27 that Laban had asked Jacob to stay because he had learned by experience that the Lord was blessing him because of Jacob.
Monday (God willing) we will finish Chapter 31 and then get ready for the meeting again of Jacob and Esau 20 years later.
The Lord our God is with us, He is mighty to save.
He rejoices over us with singing
The Lord gives praise and honor, taking all of our shame
He rejoices over us with singing
The Lord our God is with us, He is mighty to save
He rejoices over us with joy
The Lord our God is with us, He is mighty to save.
His delight is in us, He renews His love.
Heavenly Father, Help us when we are accused of wrong doing to be filled with the Holy Spirit that we might be able to stand against those that wrongly accuse us. May we, by our faith in you, allow others to see You in us, and that we might stand boldly before others for You.
Amen
Have a God Filled and Spirit Led Day. Go in Peace, Serve the Lord with Gladness and Love God More Today.
Yours In Christ,
Cindi
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