Genesis 31
Jacob, along with his household return to the land of his father---and the Lord promises, “I will be with you” (v 3).
God blesses Jacob because He remembers the vow that Jacob made to Him, and because He saw the way Laban was treating Jacob (see verses 40-41 for summary of years of service). By this time Jacob was wealthy. He put his wives and children on camels—not donkeys for their trip to Canaan, but they left without saying goodbye to Laban. When Laban catches up with the caravan he and Jacob discuss the situation---and Laban tries to find his “idols” that someone in the family took from his home. Although the idols are never discovered (Rachel has them), Jacob and Laban do come to an agreement and make a covenant to treat each other right. They set up a stone pillar with a heap of stones around it in memory of their covenant.
Additionally Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain, called his kinsmen together, and they ate a meal on the mountain consecrating the vows of Jacob and Laban. In the morning Laban kissed his daughters and grandchildren, blessed them and he returned home. What could have been an ugly fight turned into a blessing because the Lord intervened and Laban was respectful to God’s leading. A meal sealed the covenant between Jacob and Laban. What a good example for us.
When we have differences, we should clear the air---make a covenant—and sit down at a meal together. Set things right where there are differences---don’t wait for the sun to go down (Ephesians 4:26). Surely God was in their midst. May He be in your midst today, too. Eat, drink, and be merry---together.
Lord, help us to be open to listening to others and set things right that our lives would be pleasing to you. Thank you for always being with us, just as you were with Jacob.
No comments:
Post a Comment