In this chapter Jacob and his family determine to leave Laban’s house and return to Canaan.
Verses 1-16
Jacob became wealthier and Laban’s sons were getting upset. They were accusing him of taking from their father instead of seeing what God was doing in Jacobs life.
God appeared to Jacob and told him to return to Canaan the land of his birth.
Jacob was feeling threatened by Laban and his sons. He told Leah and Rachel what God had instructed.
Laban had not been honest in his business dealings with them but God blessed them anyways. Jacob was very much aware how Laban was deceiving him financially but he trusted God would take care of him.
Vs 7 Your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me.
No matter how Laban tried to change Jacob’s wages God continued to bless him.
Verses 17-21
Jacob and his family quietly left Labans land while he was busy shearing sheep.
Rachel stole her fathers idols. (Some believe that she did this because she was an unbeliever and she didn’t want her fathers idols telling him where they were going and I have also heard it was because she wanted them for her self to worship)
Verses 22-25
Three days later Laban discovered they left and gathered a small army of men to go after them.
God appeared to Laban not to speak good or bad to Jacob.
Verses 26-43
Laban was angry and told Jacob he did not get a chance to say goodbye to his daughters and grandchildren. He also wanted to know why they stole his idols.
Jacob denied stealing his idols because he didn’t know what Rachel had done. Laban searched for them but Rachel was sitting on them in her saddle.
She told her father that she didn’t feel well so her saddle was not searched and they did not find them.
Jacob berated Laban for his accusations and his dishonesty toward him.
Verses 44-55
They agreed to make a covenant of peace between them.
Jacob offered a sacrifice to the Lord and they ate with their relatives.
Laban said goodbye and kissed his daughters and grandchildren.
Jacobs dishonesty to his father and brother caused him to leave his own family and lose those relationships.
Now Laban’s dishonesty has caused him to lose his daughters and grandchildren.
Honesty is important in our relationships with each other.
Jacob grew spiritually by putting his hope in God. He didn’t worry that Laban was cheating him financially but knew God would handle it for him. Somehow supernaturally Jacob became wealthy even though his boss (father n law) was cheating him.
He did not become a victim of his circumstance’s.
No matter what the world tries to take away from us our God will restore to us. Jacob didn’t trust his boss or his job to take care of him but in God who would restore to him everything and then some. He became very wealthy in an impossible situation but he trusted God completely.
Jacob didn’t go after Laban because he knew that Laban was not his source but God was his source.
There are times in our own life that people have robbed us financially and emotionally. God will restore what others do to us in a way that we never dreamed possible when we trust Him to do so.
Hebrews 13:5 says “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”
Jesus even warns us that people will lie about us and persecute us but blessed are you when this happens.
Our job is not to get mad and even with people but instead look to the God that restores. God will vindicate us!
God is in charge of our destiny, not man. God will find a way to bless us in the midst of any situation man tries to put on us.
Christine Cane said it best:
We serve a supernatural God, who is able to bring supernatural provision and open supernatural doors and make a way where there is no way! What is impossible with man is possible with God because nothing is impossible with God!
Trust Him!
