Read the Passage: Genesis 31

Listen to the Redeemed Mind Podcast: Genesis 31

God’s Appearance (31:1–21)

After serving Laban for six additional years, it was apparent that Jacob’s wealth was increasing, and Laban’s was decreasing. As could perhaps be expected, this soured the relationship between Jacob and Laban. Indeed, Jacob was aware of the tension caused by his growing wealth. Finally, God appeared to Jacob and said, “Return to the land of your fathers, and to your family, and I will be with you” (Gen. 31:3). This promise of God’s presence is very similar to what Jacob had been told when he’d first fled Canaan (cf. Gen. 28:15). Next, Jacob assembled his wives and revealed to them his plan to return home. After reviewing Laban’s dishonesty, Jacob shared three additional details about God’s appearance to him; first, God was aware of Laban’s deceitfulness; second, God was the same God who appeared to Jacob at Bethel; and third, Jacob was to return to the Promised Land.

Leah’s and Rachel’s reaction to Jacob’s plan to relocate is interesting. A move from the only home that they had ever known was surely a challenging idea, yet Laban’s unjust treatment of Jacob was clear. In response to Jacob’s plan, the wives consented as they declared, “Whatever God has said to you, do it” (Gen. 31:16). Yet, it is noteworthy that the sisters’ rationale for supporting their shared husband was not primarily spiritual, but financial. Indeed, observe the wives’ reasoning as they asked, “Is there still any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house? . . . For he has sold us, and also completely consumed our money. For all these riches which God has taken from our father are really ours and our children’s.” Next, since Leah and Rachel had endorsed his plan to flee from Laban, Jacob gathered his family, his servants, and his possessions and departed from Haran, and headed toward the Promised Land.

Laban’s Pursuit (31:22–42)

The text reports that Laban did not learn of Jacob’s departure for three days, and that it took seven additional days for Laban to overtake Jacob. While Laban was obviously upset, since God had promised to protect Jacob, God appeared to Laban in a dream and warned him, “Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad” (Gen. 31:24). Laban then confronted Jacob, asked the reason for his hasty exodus, and accused Jacob of stealing his household gods. Jacob’s explanation for his departure was that he feared Laban wouldn’t allow him to leave. Clearly, Jacob wasn’t aware that Rachel had stolen Laban’s household gods (cf. Gen. 31:19), for he invited Laban to search through his belongings. However, Laban failed to find his gods, for Rachel had hidden them. This sparked a tirade from Jacob about Laban’s decades-long unjust treatment of him (cf. Gen. 31:36–42).

Jacob’s Covenant (31:43–55)

Observe that in Gen. 31:36–42 Jacob’s charges against Laban included: unjust labor practices, a harsh work environment, and deceitful remuneration. Interestingly, Laban did not dispute any of Jacob’s allegations; rather, Laban resorted to the false claim that he was the true owner of everything that Jacob now possessed. Observe that Laban desired to harm Jacob (cf. Gen. 31:29); but Laban had been both warned (cf. Gen. 31:24) and rebuked by God (cf. Gen. 31:42). Laban’s only recourse, then, was to ask Jacob to make a covenant with him. Note that in his earlier tirade again Laban, Jacob referred to God as “the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac” (Gen. 31:42). This is the first time in Scripture that Jacob identified his God with the God of his father and grandfather. This indicates Jacob’s new understanding that he was now the possessor and beneficiary of the Abrahamic Covenant.

The covenant between Jacob and Laban is interesting. Two main reasons were given for this covenant. First, Laban wanted to ensure that Jacob would not take any additional wives in addition to his two daughters (cf. Gen. 31:50). Laban’s desire to ensure the well-being of his daughters is perhaps unexpected, for it shows that Laban was not driven solely by self-aggrandizement. Second, Jacob and Laban both wanted to ensure that they were protected from each other. Gen. 31:51–53 reports their agreement, “Then Laban said to Jacob, ‘Here is this heap and here is this pillar, which I have placed between you and me. This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not pass beyond this heap to you, and you will not pass beyond this heap and this pillar to me, for harm.’ The God of Abraham, the God of Nahor, and the God of their father judge between us.”

Application Questions:

1. Given Laban’s corrupt character and mistreatment of Jacob, why did Jacob stay with Laban for twenty years?
2. Given that God had instructed him to depart, why did Jacob feel it necessary to secretly flee from Laban?
3. In light of his unceremonious departure, along with Rachel’s thievery, why did God protect Jacob from Laban?
4. What did Jacob mean in referring to God with the unusual phrase “the Fear of Issac” (Gen. 31:41; cf. Gen. 31:53)?
5. What is the significance of Jacob and Laban appealing to the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor?