GENESIS 31
So Jacob arose and set his sons and his wives on camels. 18 He drove away all his livestock, all his property that he had gained, the livestock in his possession that he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac. 19 Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father’s household gods. 20 And Jacob trickedLaban the Aramean, by not telling him that he intended to flee. 21 He fled with all that he had and arose and crossed the Euphrates, and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead.
22 When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled, 23 he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him for seven days and followed close after him into the hill country of Gilead. 24 But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”– Genesis 31:17-24
GENESIS 31 LABAN’S ATTEMPT TO PURSUE JACOB
A poem inspired by these verses by ILMA
Jacob took his wives and set his sons for the journey to Canaan
He decided to flee and tricked Laban without telling him
Since Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Jacob took that break
His livestock, sons and wives were all crossing the Euphrates
Laban learned that he and his daughters had fled
He pursued them but God came to stop him in a dream.
Perhaps Jacob knew that Laban would find a way to trick him again and stop him from leaving Haran, so he decided to flee when Laban had gone to shear his sheep. It had been on the third day that Laban pursues Jacob for seven days when God stopped Laban and warned him to be wary of what he is going to say to Jacob. We witness once again how God was constantly with Jacob and how he protected him from Laban.
Why Rachel stole her father’s household idols have many different commentaries on it. Some say that idols were used as deeds for property. Since Laban stripped them off their inheritance, that’s her way of getting back at him. Other’s say that she may not want Laban to continue with his idolatry. Other’s say that she may have been idolizing them.
REFLECTION
- Why do you think God himself manifested the warning to Laban in a dream?
