Rachel, Jacob, Laban, & Idols

01/18/2007

SPIRITUAL DIARY

My Worship Time                  Focus:  Rachel, Laban, Jacob & Idols

Bible Reading & Meditation             Reference:  Genesis 31:30-35

            Message of the verses:  “30  "Now you have indeed gone away because you longed greatly for your father’s house; but why did you steal my gods?"  31  Then Jacob replied to Laban, "Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force.  32  "The one with whom you find your gods shall not live; in the presence of our kinsmen point out what is yours among my belongings and take it for yourself." For 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 maids, but he did not find them. Then he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent.  34  Now Rachel had taken the household idols and put them in the camel’s saddle, and she sat on them. And Laban felt through all the tent but did not find them.  35  She said to her father, "Let not my lord be angry that I cannot rise before you, for the manner of women is upon me." So he searched but did not find the household idols.”

            As I read through this section it becomes clear to me that there was not a good relationship between Jacob and Laban, even though they were family.  Jacob was afraid of Laban, and it seems that the only reason that Laban put up with Jacob was to get out of Jacob some of the blessings that God had given to Jacob, without, (it seems) coming to know the One True God. 

            The question comes up why did Rachel steal the idols of her father?  I have read a about a number of reasons as to why she may have done this:  1.  To get a family inheritance.  2.  She did it for vengeance because of the way her father was treating her.  3.  Rachel’s commitment to the Lord was not good. 

            The next thing that I see here is that Jacob was afraid of Laban as seen in verse 31.  Jacob was not trusting in the promises that God had given to him and that is for Jacob to go back to the promised land and to use him to build a great nation as was promised to him, his father and his grand-father. 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Trusting in the Lord and the promises that He has given is something that I see for me from this section of Scripture.

The Word of God has been challenging to my heart as I read and studied it this morning.

My Steps of Faith Today:  Continue to trust the Lord to teach me contentment and to direct my path.