Jacob Returns to the Promised Land Genesis 31:4-55 I. Introduction and review A. Jacob finally ts a messa to leave Haran 1. The messa comes directly from his God 2. So he begins to make provision B. He s not certain what he s leaving C. And he s not certain what is waiting for him D. But many times that s the way it is when God calls II. Preparations to leave A. First he wants to t his wives on board [Gen 31:4-16] 1. He tells them that: a. Their father is now antagonistic towards him b. That Laban has tried to cheat Jacob on multiple occaisions c. That his God has protected him up to now, but d. That God has now told him to go home 2. He then confirms to his wives that God was the one who has accomplished the shift in assets from Laban to Jacob, not himself 3. And he then relates to them God s full messa to him: a. God identifies Himself as the God Bethel b. He reminds Jacob his vow c. And He instructs him to return to the promised land 1
4. How do his wives respond? a. They agree with what he has said b. They indicate that there is no reason to stay in Haran (1) why is that? (2) the daughter should inherit some or all her bride price or its benefit (3) Genesis 31:14-16 14 Rachel and Leah said to him, Do we still have any portion or inheritance in our father's house? 15 Are we not reckoned by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and has also entirely consumed our purchase price. 16 Surely all the wealth which God has taken away from our father belongs to us and our children; now then, do whatever God has said to you. (4) what would you say their motivation or basis to say do what God is telling you B. Jacob decides to leave surreptitiously [31:17-24] 1. Why did he decide to do it that way? [he didn t trust Laban] 2. Jacob took everything that was his with him 3. He probably had placed his flocks right near to the Euphrates River, as he sought pasture for them. 4. It takes Laban three days to learn Jacob s leaving 5. And seven more days to catch up to him in the hill country Gilead [Map] 2
C. When Laban catches up to Jacob he makes a big show things [Gen. 31:25-29] 1. He plays the hurt and wounded father-in-law 2. He also displays his thinking on ownership a. He refers to Jacob s wives and concubines, as his b. He refers to the children as his c. He also refers to Jacob s livestock as his 3. He claims that Jacob has slighted him by leaving without giving Laban a chance to throw a going away party for him a. Jacob probably remembered the party that Laban threw for him 20 years ago when he thought he was marrying Rachel b. But the long and the short it is that God spoke to Laban the night before (1) Genesis 31:24 God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream the night and said to him, Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad. (2) remember the promise that God had made to Jacob back at Bethel I will keep you (3) what God had to say to Laban was not kindly, sympathetic, or neutral was a severe and fearful warning (4) God was fulfilling his promise to Joseph guarding and protecting him 3
(5) will Jacob now believe that God will continue to intervene on his behalf, in the future? c. Jacob s response was that he was concerned that Laban would not let him or his possessions go if he was told ahead time D. Laban s only real complaint is that his household gods were missing [31:30-35] 1. These were pagan gods 2. They are called in the Hebrew terephim a. ~ypir't. teraphiym {ter-aw-feme'} Meaning: 1) idolatry, idols, ima(s), teraphim, family idol 1a) a kind idol used in household shrine or worship b. there are some commentators who say that these are small female figurines c. that could not be true the word is masculine plural d. they were either all male, or male and female 3. Jacob indicates that he knew nothing about the missing gods a. this is probably true b. otherwise he would not have put Rachel at risk as he did E. Jacob is now emboldened by two things [31:36-42]: 1. Laban s failure to find anything his amoung Jacob s belongings, and 2. God s messa warning to Laban; 3. So he begins a stinging rebuke Laban 4
4. Laban has no response to Jacob s rebuke F. So Laban s response is that he wants a peace treaty. [31:43-55] Why? 1. He is familiar with the story Abraham and how he defeated the four kings from Mesopotamia 2. Although Abraham is dead, he knows that Isaac inherited all that he had, including his personal army 3. He also knows that Isaac is still alive and that Jacob will inherit from Isaac 4. Jacob could go back and tell his father what Laban, his kinsman had done to him and Isaac say, We need to pay old Laban a little visit, call out the troops. 5. Or once Isaac is gone, Jacob decide to lead a little expeditionary force over to Haran 6. So he wants peace a. Its interesting, all he really ts is Jacob s word, but he knows that Jacob s word is good, even though Laban s promises are not nearly as reliable 7. The heap stones is a symbol and a demarcation point. It is interesting that the words said: May the LORD watch between you and me when we are absent one from the other. constitute a phrase we now use as a good will parting phrase a. Here they were used to mean if you break this promise God will see you, and respond accordingly 5
9. Laban now leaves and Jacob is now on his own, going back to the land promised to his father, his grandfather before him, and to Jacob himself III. A Key Sense Direction A. God s ability to meet our needs and even to make us thrive, is not effected by the desire others to mistreat us. Therefore don t give in and respond to their lack fair play, in kind, otherwise you will be no different from them. B. Laban was a man who manipulated people for his own benefit, but those who set out to use others will eventually find themselves being used C. Why would Rachel want to take these gods? 1. There are several possibilities: a. she still has some pagan ties to the religion they represent b. these gods had intrinsic value, such as being made out precious metal, or c. they indicated an extrinsic value such as inheritance rights 2. What has Rachel done? a. Acting without her husband s permission, she has put her family at grave risk (1) because Jacob diidn t know, the family was put in grave danr (2) if these idols were found by Laban, would he believe that it was all Rachel s idea with no joinder on Jacob s part? (3) certainly not in light his embarassment, and since he was 6
looking for an excuse to take what was Jacob s b. She has introduced idols into her family s home (1) will that kind spiritual compromise effect God s blessing Jacob and his family (2) how is it going to effect the spiritual growth this family God intends to build into His people c. She has now acted as a means to allow Satan into her home and served as a launching site for his attacks on her husband and his children D. Consider Jacob s testimony to Laban 1. Jacob had set a standard for himself, even when dealing with a scoundrel like Laban it was an uncommon standard 2. Jacob determined that he would always do more than what was expected him 3. That commitment was spelled out in Jacob s rebuke Laban a. If any that rebuke was not true, Laban would have said something about it or corrected Jacob b. When the flock was attacked by thieves Jacob took the losses c. He covered the losses from wild animal attacks d. He didn t consume what was rightfully his to consume, for the good the flock e. He worked hard even after several pay cuts 7
4. What are the results adopting and maintaining an uncommon standard a. First and foremost it pleases God (1) it indicates that you are living to please Him b. It develops spiritual maturity and godly character c. It builds the confidence others in you d. It earns you recognition and advancement e. It enhances your reputation in your community f. It gives you the opportunity for more experience and knowled