Genesis 31-33
Today we get more about Jacob.
Jacob leaving Laban
Jacob returning to the land of his father.
Genesis 31:1 And he heard the words of Laban's sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father's; and of that which was our father's hath he gotten all this glory.
Laban's children were obviously really angry that Jacob had made the best of the cattle, sheep, goats, and pretty much everything else his.
3 And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.
When your father in law/uncle gets angry at you, and your cousin/brother in laws treat you different, it's time to move on. Jacob calls his 2 wives into the field.
5 And said unto them, I see your father's countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.
6 And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.
7 And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.
I'm sure when he said "your father hath deceived me" he was looking right at the tender-eyed Leah.
But doesn't it sound as though Jacob is making an excuse for his behavior? Not that he's explaining JUST actions, that he was wronged, so therefore, his activities are somehow acceptable behavior.
14 And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father's house?
15 Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.
16 For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children's: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.
Did Rachel and Leah just ask if there was any MORE they could take from their father?
20 And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.
22 And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.
He took his livestock, 2 wives, their handmaids, 11 boys, one daughter... and left without Laban noticing.
Laban believes that Jacob may have taken things that didn't belong to Jacob. So he pursues Jacob to Gilead. When he gets there, he searches for things that were stolen. The only thing that was stolen, was by Rachel, who took images of the gods of Laban with her.
32 With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.
So Laban searches... and searches... Jacob's tent, Leah's tent, the maidservants' tents, until he finally goes into Rachel's tent.
Rachel hides them under some pillows that she's sitting on.
34 Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.
35 And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched but found not the images.
She claimed she was having her period, so she couldn't get up, I'm sure Laban was like... eeew; and wouldn't touch the things she was sitting on anyway.
Jacob then becomes angry at Laban for not finding the things he was looking for, then complains about all the work he's done for the past 20 (or so) years, again he mentions the Leah incident, and they make up, have a feast and leave each other on good terms.
55 And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his place.
Genesis 32.
3 And Jacob sent messengers before him to Esau his brother unto the land of Seir, the country of Edom.
4 And he commanded them, saying, Thus shall ye speak unto my lord Esau; Thy servant Jacob saith thus, I have sojourned with Laban, and stayed there until now:
5 And I have oxen, and asses, flocks, and menservants, and womenservants: and I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find grace in thy sight.
The last thing Jacob knew was that his brother wanted to kill him. For the past 20 years, he probably flinched every time he heard the name Esau.
6 And the messengers returned to Jacob, saying, We came to thy brother Esau, and also he cometh to meet thee, and four hundred men with him.
7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and distressed: and he divided the people that was with him, and the flocks, and herds, and the camels, into two bands;
8 And said, If Esau come to the one company, and smite it, then the other company which is left shall escape.
So, why would he be worried? He's been blessed. But has he gotten everything he had through fair play? Jacob prays:
11 Deliver me, I pray thee, from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he will come and smite me, and the mother with the children.
In the hopes that Esau may be bribed from killing him, he prepares a gift.
200 female goats; 20 male goats; 200 ewes; 20 rams; 30 camels with colts; 40 kine (?); 10 bulls; 20 she asses; and 10 foals. That's quite a "please don't kill me gift".
He instructs his servants to take them slowly, so they can have more space between them... so if Esau starts to kill things, that Jacob might have time to escape.
Jacob sends everything ahead, and is left alone.
24 And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day.
Jacob wrestled with God, neither was winning, until God decides he doesn't want to wrestle anymore, so God cheats.
25 And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him.
Jacob asks for a blessing before he lets God go, and God does, and changes his name to Israel.
Genesis 33.
1 And Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau came, and with him four hundred men. And he divided the children unto Leah, and unto Rachel, and unto the two handmaids
2 And he put the handmaids and their children foremost, and Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph hindermost.
He put the handmaids with their children first, and kept Rachel and Joseph last. So here's a question. If you had 11 boys and a daughter, and were going around with the 4 women who gave birth to your children, could you put them in an order that you'd prefer to see them killed?
4 And Esau ran to meet him, and embraced him, and fell on his neck, and kissed him: and they wept.
Esau forgave. Jacob still hasn't learned that lesson yet. Esau forgave Jacob for the birthright taking, for the blessing taking. But Jacob still complained to Laban about Leah, and changing his wages, even though he took the best of Laban's flocks. Here is a good lesson on forgiveness.
Esau sees all the women and children and asks who's they are, so Jacob introduces them. Jacob still offers the gifts, but Esau refuses, saying he has enough.
Jacob buys a parcel of land, and builds his house and a nice little farm.
So what have we learned?
Jacob started to be disliked by Laban's other kids (and Laban).
He left
Rachel took the idols and hid them under guise of her period.
Jacob was still afraid of Esau (after more than 20 years).
Esau forgave.
Jacob built a quaint little farm.
YIC
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