QT 11/10/2025 Gen 31:22–32, Listen to God, not the world

Genesis 31:22–32 (ESV) —

22 When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled, 23 he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him for seven days and followed close after him into the hill country of Gilead. 24 But God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream by night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”

25 And Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban with his kinsmen pitched tents in the hill country of Gilead. 26 And Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have tricked me and driven away my daughters like captives of the sword? 27 Why did you flee secretly and trick me, and did not tell me, so that I might have sent you away with mirth and songs, with tambourine and lyre? 28 And why did you not permit me to kiss my sons and my daughters farewell? Now you have done foolishly. 29 It is in my power to do you harm. But the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’ 30 And now you have gone away because you longed greatly for your father’s house, but why did you steal my gods?” 31 Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force. 32 Anyone with whom you find your gods shall not live. In the presence of our kinsmen point out what I have that is yours, and take it.” Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen them.

 

NOTE: Even though Laban is a cheat and a scoundrel, some of his arguments sound good: to be sent with mirth and songs, to kiss his daughters and grandchildren goodbye. But Laban is a cheat to his core. And he would have created some opportunity to delay or stop Jacob. So, while the words sound reasonable, and the arguments are compelling, sometimes it is still wrong. God told Jacob to leave, and I'm not sure it was possible to leave peaceably. I'm not sure what Laban was planning to do, even in this situation that God had to appear to him in a dream. Was he going to forcibly bring the wives, children, and stock back home? Was he going to kill Jacob for "theft of family and stock?" None of his options were legal, but who would have opposed him? There was one legal option, and that would have allowed Laban to bring everything back. If he found the stolen goods among Jacob's possessions, he would have had the authority to kill Jacob. So, Rachel's actions had put God's entire plan in jeopardy. Fortunately, God knows the future and the past. He knows what he will do. God's plan was to bring Jacob, his wives, and eleven sons (Benjamin would be born in the land) to the promised land. God will accomplish his will.

 

God will accomplish his will, but that doesn't mean it will be through you or me. Persistent disobedience to God's commands can result in God choosing other ways to accomplish his will. We have free will. We can choose to make a mess of our lives. If we truly believed, we cannot lose the salvation God freely gave us, be we can make a mess of our lives. As Jesus said to Saul on the road to Damascus, "Saul, Saul, … it hurts you to kick against the goads" (Acts 26:14). Where are we fighting against God?

 

PONDER:

1. Is God calling me to a task?
2. Do I use human arguments to allow me to stray from God's commands?

 

PRAYER: Father, I must obey you first, independent of anything else. Guard me from listening to the arguments of the world. Your word and your commands are my desires.