GENESIS 31
25 And Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban with his kinsmen pitched tents in the hill country of Gilead. 26 And Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have tricked me and driven away my daughters like captives of the sword? 27 Why did you flee secretly and trick me, and did not tell me, so that I might have sent you away with mirth and songs, with tambourine and lyre? 28 And why did you not permit me to kiss my sons and my daughters farewell? Now you have done foolishly. 29 It is in my power to do you harm. But the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’ 30 And now you have gone away because you longed greatly for your father’s house, but why did you steal my gods?” 31 Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force. 32 Anyone with whom you find your gods shall not live. In the presence of our kinsmen point out what I have that is yours, and take it.” Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them. 33 So Laban went into Jacob’s tent and into Leah’s tent and into the tent of the two female servants, but he did not find them. And he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s. 34 Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them in the camel’s saddle and sat on them. Laban felt all about the tent, but did not find them. 35 And she said to her father, “Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise before you, for the way of women is upon me.” So he searched but did not find the household gods. – Genesis 31:25-35
GENESIS 31 LABAN CHASES JACOB FOR HIS IDOLS
Laban chases Jacob and finally catches up with him. His intention was not to stop him from taking his daughters and their children, but to accuse him of stealing his household gods. This account tells us that Jacob had no idea that Rachel took those gods and hid them in her camel while her father was searching for it. So, it wasn’t discovered. Why Rachel stole these gods was not mentioned in the story, but there was a commentary saying that those household gods can serve as property deeds. Laban stripped Leah and Rachel of their inheritance. The reason for taking it may be to get back at her father for not justly treating them. We hear Laban’s relentlessness to malign Jacob’s character, a manipulation tactic that he is an expert on.
REFLECTION
· What character trait of Rachel was revealed in this account?
