31:1-21
Repeated phrases:
(1) It is all about money
Laban's sons were complaining about Jacob taking away Laban's possessions.
31:1 Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were complaining, “Jacob has taken everything that belonged to our father! He has gotten rich at our father’s expense!”
Leah and Rachael agreed that they would leave their father because Laban sold them to Jacob.
31:14 Then Rachel and Leah replied to him, “Do we still have any portion or inheritance in our father’s house? 31:15 Hasn’t he treated us like foreigners? He not only sold us, but completely wasted the money paid for us!31:16 Surely all the wealth that God snatched away from our father belongs to us and to our children.
(NET) Since Jacob had to work to pay for them, they probably mean that their father has cheated Jacob and therefore cheated them as well.
Reflection: It seemed like that in their family all they care about was money. What do you teach your family about what is the most valuable thing?
(2) "Your father vs the God of my father"
31:5 There he said to them, “I can tell that your father’s attitude toward me has changed, but the God of my father has been with me.
v.6b your father has humiliated me and changed my wages ten times. But God has not permitted him to do me any harm
31:9 In this way God has snatched away your father’s livestock and given them to me.
Laban could not harm Jacob because God has been helping him. In the dream, the angel of God said,
v.12b for I have observed all that Laban has done to you
Reflection: Maybe there will be people around us that mean to do harm to us, but we dont need to be afraid nor worry about that. God has observed all that. Yes, there is Covid 19. Yes, people do not wear their mask and make it worse. Yes, government made a lot of mistake based on political reason. Yes, internationally there is a lot of tension. God has observed all those. Can we trust God Who knows all these?
Jacob has worked for Laban for over 14 years. During the last 7 years he knew that he was cheated by Laban (Laban gave Leah for him as wife so that he had to work for 7 more years). It may seem to him that God did not do anything at that time, but now he knew that God had observed all that Laban had done to him.
Personally, we may go through sickness, being laid off, marital problem or other difficulties. God has observed all those. He knows.
Audrey
2026
Repeated phrase:
1. "I will be with you." v.3 This is what God promised to Jacob when he left home in 28:15. Here, when God told Jacob to return He restated that. No need to be afraid.
"I can tell that your father’s attitude toward me has changed, but the God of my father has been with me." v.5 (EBC) Jacob’s actions are to be understood as the Lord’s enabling Jacob to be repaid for Laban’s mistreatment of him. He further explained that in v.7-9
2. In v.7-9, Jacob saw how God has been with him was
v.7b...But God has not permitted him to do me any harm
9 In this way God has snatched away your father’s livestock and given them to me.
(GNB) v.12 ‘Look,’ he continued, ‘all the male goats that are mating are striped, spotted, and speckled. I am making this happen because I have seen all that Laban is doing to you.
(UBSH) this statement suggests that God has arranged for the animals to breed in this fashion so that Jacob will receive the wages Laban has withheld from him. In this way Jacob’s trick in chapter 30, in which the striped branches are placed before the mating animals, is now explained as God’s intervention to make the trick work for Jacob.
Summary: God told Jacob to return to his native land. (1) By encouraging him with the promise of His presence (2) by the changing of attitude of Laban (3) By the assurance that God had blessed him over Laban in his mating trick and (4) By the agreement of his wives, Jacob responded positively to the call and immediately return v.17.
(NET) The decision to leave was a wise one in view of the changed attitude in Laban and his sons. But more than that, it was the will of God. Jacob needed to respond to God’s call—the circumstances simply made it easier.
Reflection: Is the decision I made based on the promise of God? Is it a wise one based on the circumstances? Do I trust that God knew what other people had treated us unfairly? Is it approved by my family?
3. Questions:
1) 3 The LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your relatives. I will be with you.”
2) The feelings of Laban and his sons: “Jacob has taken everything that belonged to our father! He has gotten rich at our father’s expense!”
Jacob's report: I’ve worked for your father as hard as I could, 7 but your father has humiliated me and changed my wages ten times. But God has not permitted him to do me any harm...9 In this way God has snatched away your father’s livestock and given them to me.
3) v.15 Hasn’t he treated us like foreigners? He not only sold us, but completely wasted the money paid for us!
Comments