Text: Genesis 31:1 – 55
Intro:
1. When we left the account of Jacob’s life last time we had just looked at how God had prospered Jacob in spite of Laban’s attempts to rob him of his wages. This had cause Laban as attitude toward Jacob to change as he no longer saw Jacob as a means by which he could exploit someone for his own gain but rather as a rival in the business who was getting the lion share of the profits.
2. We begin today where we left off as Jacob had just spoken to his wives about his intention to leave Haran and return to the land of his fathers.
3. Today we will see just how carnal and self-righteous Laban had become in his pursuit of worldly success.

I. Jacob Flees from Laban (Vs 1-22)

  1. God had commanded Jacob to return to Canaan, and so so Jacob discussed the plan for departure with his wives.
  2. Rachel and Leah were on board with this plan and were not at all disappointed to be leaving their father, Laban, behind.
    a. Keil & Delitzsch note that the verb tenses in verses 14-15 indicate that Rachel and Leah are essentially saying that Laban had not only been wasteful with money in the past but was continuing in a wasteful lifestyle.
  3. Jacob prepared his family and all his earthly possessions for the long journey back to the house of his father. (Vs 19)
  4. Rachel also took advantage of her father’s absence and stole his idols and hid them in her camel pack.
  5. Jacob stole away unawares to Laban.

II. Jacob Pursued by Laban (Vs 22-25)

  1. Laban Pursues Jacob (Vs 22-25)
  2. When Laban did leave, it only took him seven days to cover the four-hundred-and-eighty-kilometer journey and reach the Mount Gilead. He must’ve been doing some hard traveling to catch up with Jacob.
    a. Laban had seven days to think through his decision to pursue Jacob, seven days to come to the realization that he was planning to unjustly attack his son-in-law, and yet Laban was not willing to let Jacob go but was intent on harming his own family. This is a warning to us about acting hastily and out of anger or frustration. Many foolish choices have been made by angry and unreasonable people. We must be a Spirit led people not an emotionally driven people.
  3. Laban overtook Jacob and pitched his tent in the Mount Gilead. (Vs 25)
  4. Laban accuses Jacob (Vs 30)
    a. Keil and Delitzsch render the question in verse 30 as, “For even if your secretive departure can be reasonably explained the stealing of my gods cannot.”
  5. Jacob was insistent on his own innocence in regard to the theft of Laban’s idols.
  6. Rachel had hid Labans idols under her saddle, which would’ve been made of carpets, and she was sitting on top of it. When Laban came to inspect her tent, she feigned that she could not stand due to her physical condition at the time. Her excuse was enough to get Laban to move on.

III. Jacob Angered by Laban (Vs 36-42)

  1. Now Jacob erupted in an outburst of pent-up frustration and anger as he demanded that Laban should lay any charges he could against Jacob and let His own brethren judge if Jacob had wronged Laban.
  2. Jacob concluded this outburst with a calmer more reasonable testimony of how God had protected him and blessed him in spite of Laban’s unjust treatment of him.

IV. Jacob Covenants with Laban (Vs 43-55)

  1. Laban begins his response, not with denial of his wrongdoing, but with denial that he would do anything to harm his daughters and their children.
  2. Laban makes a big speech about how Jacob was the one who God needed to keep an eye on. (Vs 49-51)
  3. The day was mostly spent by this point and so Jacob remained another night and offered sacrifices to God in the Mount for His final deliverance from the hand of Laban. (Vs 54-55)