INTRODUCTION: Finally the time comes for Jacob to return home. He acted according to the will of God in leaving Laban, but one wonders if the manner in which he left was not a result of unbelief. Through it all God was faithful to keep His word [Genesis 28:15].I. KNOWING GOD'S WILL - verses 1-3. ,br> One of the matters Christians often wrestle with is how to discern God's will. While we must be cautious in making someone's personal experience the rule for all, yet in Jacob's life at this point some basic principles may be gleaned:
A. Jacob was in Pandanaram over twenty years before God directed him to leave. Patience is required in learning God's will. We are always in a hurry, but God most often works more slowly that we expect. Also He does not give specific leadership about matters before we need it. God's silence until the appointed time is often the real test of faith.
B. God many times uses circumstances to direct His children. He opens and closes doors [Acts 16:6-10]. Sometimes even persecution is used to move saints into position to carry out God's purpose [Acts 8:1-4]. Jacob could see that the family of Laban now hated him. They were better off because of his coming, but could not be happy because of God's blessings upon him. Their accusations were as unfair as greed, envy, and ill-will could make them. This sinful conduct was the instrument God used to move Jacob. (Can you see a parallel here between Jacob and Joseph?)
C. Lastly, Jacob received direction from the word of God [vs.3]. In this case both providence and God's word made the path of duty plain. God's word is the greatest asset we have in discerning His will [Psalm 119:105]. When God's word clearly commands, we must obey. The duty of baptism for believers is an example of this. In other cases where matters are less clear we may glean principles from God's word that help us know which way to go.
God sometimes leads us by impressing a certain course of duty upon our mind. People often describe this as "God speaking to them." God does work in this manner, but knowing the deceitfulness of the human heart we must be certain that such impressions do not contradict God's written Word [Isaiah 8:20].
II. A GOOD CONFESSION - verses 4-16.
To insure privacy Jacob called Rachel and Leah out into the field to make known his plans. How wonderful was his confession of God's goodness. In true humility he ascribed all his blessings to God [James 1:17]. The dream that he spoke of was not the same communication of God mentioned in verse 3, but an earlier one. In verses 10-12, we learn that God had assured Jacob that He would cause the mating animals to bear young of mixed coloration. No wonder Jacob had no fear of Laban's changing schemes to cheat him.Verses 14-16 expose the evil character of Laban. Even his daughters felt used and unloved by him. The wealth obtained by their marriages should have been used for their future benefit. They felt disinherited.
Note: When God leads a husband, He can give the wife a willing heart.
III. JACOB'S DEPARTURE - verses 17-24. ,br> Jacob carefully chose his time of departure. Laban was away and busy with sheep-shearing. There is no doubt that Laban would have tried to kill or violently detain Jacob had he been present. One still wonders, however, if Jacob's stealth was justified. Laban caught up with him at any rate. Could not God have protected Jacob as well at Padanaram as at Mount Gilead?
In verse 19 we learn that unknown to Jacob the religious images of Laban were stolen by Rachel. Some believe that she took them because Laban used them to seek guidance and would be thus hindered in following them. At any rate they prove that although Laban had a knowledge of the true God, yet he was guilty of idolatry. Even Rachel seems to have been tainted with this.
None of this is surprising when we consider that Abraham was called out of a family of idolaters [Joshua 24:14]. Laban is a sad example of those who know about the true God, but never know Him personally. Rachel illustrates the seductive power of idolatry. Let us beware, for idolatry is by no means dead [I John 5:21].
In verse 24 we see once again that even the wicked are under God's restraint. Nothing can happen to God's children that He does not permit.
IV. A HYPOCRITICAL SPEECH - verses 25-30.
Every word of this speech is disgusting to an honest person. Laban portrays himself as the model of fatherly compassion and makes Jacob out to be a scoundrel. One could scarcely believe that anyone could be so deceitful did we not still meet people like this.V. AN HONEST ANSWER - verses 31-32. ,br> Jacob gave a simple and honest answer which was sufficient to expose Laban's lies. He also expressed shock at the idea of a theft which he knew nothing about.
VI. LIKE FATHER - LIKE DAUGHTER - verses 33-35. ,br>
VII. LABAN REBUKED - verses 36-42.
Twenty years of frustration cause Jacob to "boil over" here. Doubtless, he could see that Laban was made helpless by God's threat. Notice his remarks:
A. Jacob demanded to know why he has been pursued as a criminal.B. Jacob reminded Laban that he had always worked long, hard, and honestly for him. On the contrary, Laban's terms had always been most ungenerous. Normally shepherds were not responsible for animals slain by predators or stillborn. They simply presented the carcas to prove that they had driven off the wild beast. Jacob, however, was responsible for every animal of Laban's. Any animal lost for any reason must be made up from Jacob's flock.
C. Jacob then reminded Laban that he had constantly tried to cheat him. God alone had preserved him.
VIII. A COVENANT - verses 43-54.
Before leaving, Laban suggested that they make a covenant. He recognized that Jacob was blessed of God and had come to fear him. He wanted assurance that Jacob would not later return and harm him. It is exasperating to see how the old hypocrite pretended that it was Jacob who needed watching.As a token of the covenant a pillar was set up and a pile of stones raised upon which a meal was eaten. Neither man was to pass back past these stones with evil intentions toward the other.
IX. LABAN RETURNS HOME - verse 55.
This is the last we hear of Laban. He was a sad example of many today who think only of wealth and never profit from any spiritual opportunities they possess. Laban was no better than those who had never heard of God.
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