Sermon Tone Analysis
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Pray
Good morning, Reliance.
Would you pray with me this morning?
Father, as we approach Your Word this morning, I ask that you give me a clarity of thought and speech.
Let me be empowered by Your Spirit to communicate clearly, and for all of us to hear from You without distracted hearts and minds.
May you work in a mighty way in our hearts this morning to see Your faithfulness and blessing despite our sinful hearts.
We admit that we have all fallen short of your standards and laws and we need Jesus Christ for our righteousness and salvation.
Thank you for fulfilling Your promises to Your people.
In Christ’s name we pray.
Amen.
Ready, Set...
ILLUSTRATION
God has made Jacob, the son of Isaac, quite prosperous.
Despite Laban’s attempts to trick him from having a flock of his own, Jacob has taken all of Laban’s flocks.
Jacob, the trickster, has been tricked by Laban long enough and has been given Laban’s wealth by God’s hand.
Laban’s sons aren’t happy about this, and Jacob begins to realize that he isn’t as favored in Laban’s eyes as he once was.
Remember how Laban first greeted Jacob in Genesis 29?
When we contrast what once was with what is twenty years later, the tensions are high.
Even Rachel and Leah agree.
They see how they have been mistreated and deceived by Laban, and how God has provided for Jacob despite this.
The relationship is thin and strained because of Jacob’s prosperity and Laban’s jealousy.
But God sees Jacob’s affliction and will see His covenant blessing fulfilled through Him.
So, He commands Jacob to return to the land of his fathers.
…Leave!
(17-21)
Jacob and his family don’t even say goodbye.
They just up and depart after Laban leaves to Shear his sheep.
Wordplay (19-20)
There is a lot of wordplay here that shows that Jacob and Rachel are acting out of one mind.
Another way of reading this passage would be to say:
“Rachel stole her father’s household gods.
And Jacob stole the heart of Laban the Aramean.”
We’ll get to the household gods later.
Wordplay: Laban “the Aramean” (20)
Here’s some more wordplay.
We read here that he’s no longer just called, “Laban,” but rather “Laban the Aramean.”
Aramean in Hebrew rhymes with the same word for “to deceive.”
Laban has been a deceiver.
(Sarcastically) In w hat way?
I’m Kidding.
I’m sure that if we asked Jacob, Leah, and Rachel, they could think of a time when Laban deceived them.
Jacob and Laban were made for each other.
Jacob’s trickery with his father Isaac and brother Esau was matched by Laban the Aramean’s deception.
Laban is about to receive what he has been dealing out these last 20 years and about to lose all that he believed he had control over.
And Jacob is going to grow in his trust in the God of Abraham and see His commitment to His promises.
We are beginning to witness the separation of a people.
Laban is no longer merely Laban, but now he is known as “Laban the Aramean.”
A man of a people that is separate than Jacob’s people.
A people led by Laban who is known to deceive, and a people led by Jacob who will not be known in this story by his deception, but by his trust in God.
Laban’s Confrontation (22-35)
After shearing sheep, Laban comes home to see that Jacob, Jacob’s family, and all that Jacob acquired legitimately from Laban have all gone.
Laban is upset.
No, it’s beyond that.
He’s ready and willing to go to war over this.
Read what it says in vs. 22-25 with me.
Military Terms (22-25)
We just read the terms:
Fled
Pursued
Overtook
Pitched Tents
These are military Terms.
Laban is in hot of pursuit of Jacob and is ready to make war over his fleeing.
After all, they left with his daughters, grandchildren, and the wealth that he lost.
God’s Protection (24)
If God hadn’t intervened through the dream He gave to Laban, warning him not to speak good or bad to Jacob, blood would have been spilled.
But God did intervene.
Things could have been much worse for Jacob, but God wouldn’t allow that because of His covenant faithfulness to His promised people.
God restrained Laban from evil.
Our God restrains sin for His purposes.
As Christians we know this is true.
Laban’s Words (26-30)
So, what’s a deceiver to do at this point?
He waits until the next day to talk to Jacob and makes him sweat in the meantime.
I know what anxiety is like, but I can’t imagine the conversations Jacob was having with God on that sleepless night.
While Jacob is anticipating violence, he receives what a deceiver deals best:
Words.
Laban just can’t drop it.
Driven away his daughters like captives of the sword?
This is a lie.
Rachel and Leah went willingly and agreed with Jacob to leave Laban to follow God’s call.
Sending away with songs and tambourine and lyre?
I’m having a hard time believing you with the weapons, pitchforks and torches in your son’s hands Laban.
Do you even play the tambourine?
He is posturing as a victim and a hurt father.
He still considers his daughters and grandchildren as his property.
He doesn’t acknowledge them as Jacob’s wives and children.
Even though he’s not supposed to say anything good or bad to Jacob, he still can’t help but open his mouth.
Laban is stretching the truth.
He’s now accusing Jacob of kidnapping Leah and Rachel and assumes that they would never leave him!
He is masking his ill intent towards Jacob by playing the victim and Jacob isn’t buying it.
Jacob explains why he leaves Laban so quickly.
He doesn’t justify himself but is matter of fact.
Something about Laban has changed.
Maybe Jacob just realizes the kind of man he really is.
He is no longer the welcoming man who warmly embraced Jacob into his home.
He is vindictive and controlling.
He is manipulative.
He is dangerous.
Laban’s means of arrival is only proving Jacob right.
God, who called Jacob back to his father’s land sees what is happening.
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