Lesson 67 The Treaty with Jacob and Laban Genesis 31

Things Change with Unrest in Laban’s Family

Genesis 31:1- 7.

English Standard Version (Chapter 31)

31 Now Jacob heard that the sons of Laban were saying, “Jacob has taken all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he has gained all this wealth.” 2 And Jacob saw that Laban did not regard him with favor as before.

3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”4 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah into the field where his flock was

5 and said to them, “I see that your father does not regard me with favor as he did before. But the God of my father has been with me. 6 You know that I have served your father with all my strength,

7 yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not permit him to harm me

The statement to begin the passage is truthfully, a lie. Jacob did not steal any of the cattle to which he was promised.

The gist of this story is in verse 7: Your father has cheated me and changed my wages 10 times. Rachel and Leah both, have had a front row seat to see what their dad has done since they met. Now the animosity has shifted to Jacob as the brothers think he has stolen from their father. In reality, that is what they did to Jacob. Think back to last week. The boys, Laban’s sons, took all of the flocks that were speckled, spotted, and dappled to a place where Jacob could not take them from their dad’s possession. Jacob ends up with the bulk of what was left, and that was described as “in abundance.” God blessed Jacob. I think they were really ticked off as they said Jacob now has “all this wealth!” -vs.1. We also learn that Laban was probably avoiding him, maybe out of shame , embarrassment, or the anger of getting caught doing wrong. Anyway you look at it Jacob was no longer a good guy in Laban’s eyes.

But God!

Here we are again; God steps in!

Verse three the Lord tells Jacob to skedaddle anyway. God says to return to the land of your fathers and to your kin and I will be with you. vs.1. The Lord is saying, “I have your back!” The trip to the land of his fathers, may be treacherous if he is looking over his shoulder the whole way. Plus, he has Philistine in laws, breathing down his neck.

Verse four shows the conversation between Jacob and his wives that took place out in the field. There was probably not a safe place to talk where their homes/tents were located. Tent canvas/walls have ears. Jacob tells them something is wrong with Laban and he does not regard Jacob as before, but “the God of my father has been with me.” The tension must have been fierce as Laban has changed Jacob’s wages 10 times. I don’t think this number is a literary device, but rather a true number. We may have not been told every instance of changed wages. In all of this there must have been some intended violence, but verse 7 says “ but God did not permit him to harm me.” In addition to Laban being a fraud, he was probably abusive. To a man who is morally corrupt, there is nothing beyond the realm of possibility.

It is interesting to point out that Jacob once again is leaving town when some one wants to kill him. The first time it was his own brother Esau whom he defrauded and now it is his brothers-in-law who had defrauded him. Each time he runs, he does so, looking over his shoulder. A guy could get a complex about travel. Being a nomad, that’s not a good thing.

Our next passage of Scripture tells us who is responsible for the spotted and speckled cattle being bred by the waters edge:

God Plan to Give Jacob Wages, Chapter 31:8- 13

English Standard Version (Chapter 31)

8 If he said, ‘The spotted shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore spotted; and if he said, ‘The striped shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore striped. 9 Thus God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me. 10 In the breeding season of the flock I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream that the goats that mated with the flock were striped, spotted, and mottled. 11 Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am!’ 12 And he said, ‘Lift up your eyes and see, all the goats that mate with the flock are striped, spotted, and mottled, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now arise, go out from this land and return to the land of your kindred.’ ”

The Plan for Breeding

the animals had come to Jacob in a dream that is not revealed in the previous chapter. Also the angel of God, vs.11, is the one, who in the dream, is instructing him. This passage Jacob rehearses the pact that he had with Laban about him getting the sheep without streaks, spots, or custom colors. Jacobs gets the multi-colored cattle. That was the agreement and Laban did not hold up his end of the bargain.

The Dream

Jacob clearly saw the animals as striped, spotted, and mottled (dappled). Then the angel explained what he saw. God has seen all that Laban has done to him and God is going to make it right. Of course, we are glad to hear Jacob say, “Here am I!” This is probably the pre-incarnate Christ even as Jacob only says “here am I.” It would have been nice if he would have said, “Lord, here am I.” Verse 13 gives us the identity of the messenger: I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed your pillar/pillow and made a vow. Arise and get out of town to the land of your kinfolk! Jacob is now ready to roll but he does take time to check things out with Leah and Rachel. And we soon find out, they agree.

Let’s ,check out verses 14-16:

English Standard Version (Chapter 31)

” 14 Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there any portion or inheritance left to us in our father’s house? 15 Are we not regarded by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and he has indeed devoured our money. 16 All the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do.”

Now, it is revealed to us that Laban has scuttled their inheritance. Their portion is gone. Their identity is not at home, it is with Jacob. They do not feel Laban treats them as family members- their cry is that they are treated like foreigners, sold like slaves and their money has been completely wasted. Everything God has taken away from their father belongs to their family to to their children. We are with you Jacob. Laban has really come out vividly as a scoundrel. The girls are ready to walk away also. Thus goes the saying, “if mamma ain’t happy, ain’t no one happy.”

And just like that we enter into another dramatic parting of family. Wow, so much has been sowed by one man against Jacob, Leah, Rachel and the grand kids: tension, intended violence, lies, cheating , fraud, deception, stealing, and loss of identity. This has been a sad chapter if we had not seen God come to the rescue.

Think of the families that have endured as much, and they have not heard the comforting words of Christ that would enable them to say, “Here am I.” There are situations where people are crying out for help but the only way they know how to respond is with more violence. This is one of life’s toughest spots, and the tough are about to get going out of here.