Going Home
Gen 31:1 And 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.
Laban's sons had there flocks. They were jealous of Jacob's success. This was done according to an agreement with Laban. Laban's daughters would benefit from Jacob's increase.
Gen 31:2 And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.
Laban was no longer friendly with his son in law. His face and disposition had changed.
Gen 31:3 And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.
The LORD spoke to Jacob, it was time to return to his land.
Gen 31:4 And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,
Gen 31:5 And 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.
Jacob's wives came to him in the field, where Jacob was tending the flocks. They were out of the hearing distance of Laban's sons. Jacob told them of his concerns.
Gen 31:6 And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.
They had been with him, and saw his faithful service for the past 20 or so years.
Col 3:22 Servants, obey in all things your masters according to the flesh; not with eyeservice, as menpleasers; but in singleness of heart, fearing God:
Col 3:23 And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;
Col 3:24 Knowing that of the Lord ye shall receive the reward of the inheritance: for ye serve the Lord Christ.
Col 3:25 But he that doeth wrong shall receive for the wrong which he hath done: and there is no respect of persons.
Col 4:1 Masters, give unto your servants that which is just and equal; knowing that ye also have a Master in heaven.
Gen 31:7 And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.
Gen 31:8 If 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.
When Laban saw the increase, he changed the agreement, ten times, but God was on Jacob's side. The flocks gave birth twice in a year. It appears that Laban changed his agreement after each time of birth.
God keeps his word and he expects us to do the seem.
Deu 25:14 Thou shalt not have in thine house divers measures, a great and a small.
Deu 25:15 But thou shalt have a perfect and just weight, a perfect and just measure shalt thou have: that thy days may be lengthened in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
Deu 25:16 For all that do such things, and all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the LORD thy God.
Gen 31:9 Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.
Gen 31:10 And 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.
Gen 31:11 And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.
Gen 31:12 And 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.
Jacob had a vision of the increase of the striped cattle.
Luke 18:7 And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?
Luke 18:8 I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?
Moving On In His Will
Gen 31:13 I 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.
Bethel is the place where Jacob personally met God. He asked God to prove himself to him. He built an altar there and anointed it with oil.
Gen 28:15 And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.
Gen 28:16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.
Gen 28:17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.
Gen 28:18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.
Gen 28:19 And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.
Gen 28:20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on,
Gen 28:21 So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God:
The God of Bethel certainly had met all of the desires of Jacob's heart. Now the return to the promise land is the last part of the covenant. God would be with Jacob, he had told Jacob to leave his father in law, Laban, now he wants a confirmation from his two wives, the daughters of Laban.
Gen 31:14 And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?
Gen 31:15 Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.
Gen 31:16 For 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.
Rachel and Leah agree to leave, being women they had no inheritance left with the Father. Any increase was due to the hard work of Jacob with God's blessings. The increase could be considered the dowry of the father and more importantly the grace and provision of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob: the God of Bethel.
Some things to consider in the midst of change.
1. By seeking God first, he promises to meet our needs.
Mat 6:31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?
Mat 6:32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
2. Be faithful
Luke 16:9 And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations.
Share your wealth and make friends using your gain for good things
Luke 16:10 He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.
Luke 16:11 If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?
Luke 16:12 And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?
Luke 16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.
Remember the Church at Laodicea was wealthy, but they were also self sufficient and not seeking the true spiritual riches. They were not trusting in Jesus and seeking his will.
3. Seeking the counsel of your spouse or confirmation from a trusted source
Pontius Pilate was seeking political advantage and ignored the warning of his wife concerning Jesus
Mat 27:19 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him.
Mat 27:20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
Be careful who you listen to. Job's wife told him to curse God and die. Check the spirit and follow the Holy Spirit as the apostle Paul did, not following the advice of others. Ultimately we answer to God. It was God who first came to Jacob and told him to leave Laban. Confirmation followed hearing personally from God. Too many want others to give them a word, but are not hearing from God personally.
4. Do what you know is right to do
What good is faith, if we do not act on it? Fear could have kept Jacob from moving on. Fear of his brother Esau, who vowed to kill him for stealing his birthright blessing. Fear may keep us from doing what God has told us to do. If God is in it, obey God not man nor devil.
Be bold as Peter was bold.
Acts 5:27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council: and the high priest asked them,
Acts 5:28 Saying, Did not we straitly command you that ye should not teach in this name? and, behold, ye have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.
Acts 5:29 Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men.
Acts 5:30 The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree.
Acts 5:31 Him hath God exalted with his right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of sins.
Acts 5:32 And we are his witnesses of these things; and so is also the Holy Ghost, whom God hath given to them that obey him.
Acts 5:33 When they heard that, they were cut to the heart, and took counsel to slay them.
Jesus fought the devil by quoting him God's word. We should be strong in faith by speaking the word of God.
Mat 4:9 And saith unto him, All these things will I give thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
Mat 4:10 Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Mat 4:11 Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.
God, the Holy Spirit goes with you and angels minister to you when we step out in faith, directed by the will of God.
The Journey begins
Gen 31:17 Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;
Gen 31:18 And 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.
Gen 31:19 And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father's.
Rachel took Laban's idol. Her heart was not towards the God of Bethel, but she wanted the god of her father. Her heart was with the father's god. She was not unlike Lot's wife who when forced to flee, looked back coveting the things of the city.
Gen 19:24 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;
Gen 19:25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.
Gen 19:26 But his wife looked back from behind him, and she became a pillar of salt.
Some are not worth their salt, until they come personally to the God of Bethel. Jesus restores our hearts back to the God of Bethel and his worship and service. Thank you Jesus for changing us. We fight the temptations of the flesh, the fear of doing your will, but we overcome by faith and the strength of God through your Holy Spirit.
Gen 31:20 And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.
If he had have told Laban, then the subtle manipulation of the Father in law would have hindered them. God tells us when to move, do not let others hinder you.
Gen 31:21 So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead.
It would be a long journey, of three hundred miles from Haran to the mountains of Gilead. No doubt a certain fear of meeting Esau would keep him concerned and then behind him would be an angry Laban. There was no turning back. In my experience, the unpleasant memories of past trials help to drive you into the uncertain future, especially if God has given you an open door. If peace leaves you completely, then seek God to be sure. God had already spoken to Jacob, so it was an open door for him. God always makes a way if he opens the door. Often we only know the next step. Move one step at a time towards the destination God has placed in your heart.
Gen 31:22 And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.
Gen 31:23 And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.
They overcame Jacob at Mt. Gilead, after ten days. The herds of Jacob averaged thirty miles per day in their journey. A grace period of three days was given to Jacob before Laban knew that they had left him. Jesus was three days in the grave until our grace was realized by his resurrection. Three days can mean leaving bondage and receiving the victory. Moses was to go a three days journey into the wilderness of Egypt to bring God's children out of bondage.
Gen 31:24 And 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.
In the old testament, God used dreams to speak his warnings. This was before the Holy Spirit was poured out. Now we have the Holy Spirit to speak to us. Old men can dream dreams, as prophecied by Joel.
Acts 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh: and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams:
Acts 2:18 And on my servants and on my handmaidens I will pour out in those days of my Spirit; and they shall prophesy:
Gen 31:25 Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.
Gen 31:26 And 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?
Gen 31:27 Wherefore 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?
Gen 31:28 And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.
Laban spoke of how it could have been, but Jacob remembers how it was. A feast, with drinking wine may have kept Jacob under bondage. Would Laban not use this as an opportunity to keep them still in his power? Laban was subtle as the devil is subtle. It was Laban's feast at the wedding, that he used as an occasion to deceive Jacob by substituting Leah as the bride, instead of Rachel. This kept Jacob in bondage for 20 years. Will he allow another feast and something taken from him again?
Gen 31:29 It 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.
Laban was restrained by the God of Jacob.
Gen 31:30 And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?
Jacob was unaware that his beloved Rachel had stolen her father's idols. His love for her made him blind to many of her faults, and unable to see the Leah was perhaps a better wife.
Gen 31:31 And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.
I do not trust you Laban. There are some online that I do not trust. Their ways have shown their hearts.
Mat 7:20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them.
Gen 31:32 With 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.
She was too close to him; he loved her too much to see her faults. King David was blinded by his desire for Bathsheba in a similar way. When he had Uriah, her husband killed, he was blind to this until Nathan the prophet came to him speaking a parable.
2 Sam 12:5 And David's anger was greatly kindled against the man; and he said to Nathan, As the LORD liveth, the man that hath done this thing shall surely die:
2 Sam 12:7 And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. ...
We must not be blind to the Lord's will. Do not expect an idolater to be a servant of God. Be faithful, and be wise. Do what is required to be the servant of the most high God.
Mizpah
Gen 31:33 And 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.
Gen 31:34 Now 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.
Gen 31:35 And 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.
The camel's furniture was a basket saddle. Within the saddle was the idol that Rachel had taken from her father. Rachel set upon the saddle and by two things she appealed to her father, to not get up. She appealed to her womanhood, that she would not be embarrassed as to the time of the month it was. Secondly, her father trusted her word and her character. In reality she was a liar and a thief. How often humans appeal to their honor and reputation, when confronted with a trespass.
Isa 64:4 For since the beginning of the world men have not heard, nor perceived by the ear, neither hath the eye seen, O God, beside thee, what he hath prepared for him that waiteth for him.
Isa 64:5 Thou meetest him that rejoiceth and worketh righteousness, those that remember thee in thy ways: behold, thou art wroth; for we have sinned: in those is continuance, and we shall be saved.
Isa 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.
Isa 64:7 And there is none that calleth upon thy name, that stirreth up himself to take hold of thee: for thou hast hid thy face from us, and hast consumed us, because of our iniquities.
Isa 64:8 But now, O LORD, thou art our father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand.
Isa 64:9 Be not wroth very sore, O LORD, neither remember iniquity for ever: behold, see, we beseech thee, we are all thy people.
Filthy rags, here means menstrual rags; applied this to Rachel, she appealed to her time of the month and her righteousness was based on her words, which were lies and deceit. She was under the curse of her husband who said: Gen 31:32 With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live:... Rachel needed to repent and trust the true God of Jacob. All must repent and receive the promise through Abraham; the Messiah Jesus our Lord.
Before I condemn Rachel, let me say that she may have just been insecure about leaving her father and wanted something of her father's that meant a lot to him. What do we show our children that we value in our lives? If they were to leave us to a distant place, would they take our faith with them? This is what Rachel did. What do you love most that your children might take as a reminder of what you loved most? Would they take a TV, or a credit card, or maybe a bad habit? It would be important to me that they take our God and our faith with them.
Jacob Speaks His Mind
Gen 31:36 And Jacob was wroth, and chided 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?
Gen 31:37 Whereas 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.
What is it now, that you seek to accuse me of? Now Jacob let's loose his anger.
Gen 31:38 This 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.
Gen 31:39 That 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.
Gen 31:40 Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.
Jacob always was responsible as a servant for anything that happened where he labored. He was the one to blame and to steal from. Isn't this the spirit of our adversary? If you serve him, he accuses you and he places bad things in your life. If you gain anything of value, he will take it from you. Only when we are under God's covenant can we escape this bondage.
Luke 1:68 Blessed be the Lord God of Israel; for he hath visited and redeemed his people,
Luke 1:69 And hath raised up an horn of salvation for us in the house of his servant David;
Luke 1:70 As he spake by the mouth of his holy prophets, which have been since the world began:
Luke 1:71 That we should be saved from our enemies, and from the hand of all that hate us;
Gen 31:41 Thus 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.
I assume that his wages were increased, proving that he was a valuable servant.
Gen 31:42 Except 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.
If it were not for my God's blessings, I would still be your slave and have nothing. But, God has told me to leave you, it is time and he has given me this increase.
Gen 31:43 And 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?
All you have is from me, my daughters, your increase. Laban does not give Jacob's God the glory. In truth everything came from Jacob's service. Laban also increased because of the blessings of God on Jacob.
Psa 115:12 The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.
Psa 115:13 He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.
Psa 115:14 The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.
Psa 115:15 Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.
Gen 31:44 Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.
Gen 31:45 And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.
Gen 31:46 And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.
That was a big heap, if they ate upon it. It was a memorial and a marker of a new agreement between Jacob and Laban.
Gen 31:47 And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.
Laban called it Jegarsahadutha: "witness heap". Jacob called it Galeed: Hebrew? for "witness heap"
Gen 31:48 And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed;
Gen 31:49 And Mizpah; for he said, The LORD watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.
Mizpah means "watchtower".
Gen 31:50 If 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.
Gen 31:51 And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee;
Gen 31:52 This 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.
This was a border marking, a witness heap, a memorial and an agreement place.
Gen 31:53 The 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.
The God of Nahor, the grandfather of Abraham. A worshipper of idols. Abraham was called out of there unto a land and an inheritance by the one true God. Others point to Abraham as their father today, but their God is not the God of Abraham.
Jacob swore by Isaac, the son of Abraham and from him he had received the blessing and the inheritance promised to Abraham.
Gen 31:54 Then 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.
Jacob offered sacrifice to his God. Laban lost his god, he was in a saddle basket hid away. Can the God of Abraham be stolen? Only by false teaching and false beliefs. He is being taken, hidden from America and without him, they have no light or truth.
Gen 31:55 And 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.
He had a good farewell and offered them his blessing. He loved his children as a father of the world should. There was no turning back for Jacob. He left the known, for the unknown. He would have to truist God who had blessed him this far. Has Jesus brought you our of bondage? Don't look back, keep going. The journey is not over until we are with Jesus.
Genesis 32
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