February 18, 2019
Obedient but Deceptive
Genesis 31:1–21
Bill Ashbaugh
Central Truth
When faced with difficult circumstances or decisions, search the Scriptures, pray for wisdom and guidance (James 1:5), and seek counsel from godly friends with whom you share life (your community group!). We all have our blind spots. In isolation, we too often follow our own selfish desires.
Key Verse | Genesis 31:20
And Jacob tricked Laban the Aramean, by not telling him that he intended to flee.
Genesis 31:1–21
Jacob Flees from Laban
1 Now Jacob heard that the sons of Laban were saying, “Jacob has taken all that was our father's, and from what was our father's he has gained all this wealth.” 2 And Jacob saw that Laban did not regard him with favor as before. 3 Then the LORD said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your kindred, and I will be with you.”
4 So Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah into the field where his flock was 5 and said to them, “I see that your father does not regard me with favor as he did before. But the God of my father has been with me. 6 You know that I have served your father with all my strength, 7 yet your father has cheated me and changed my wages ten times. But God did not permit him to harm me. 8 If he said, ‘The spotted shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore spotted; and if he said, ‘The striped shall be your wages,’ then all the flock bore striped. 9 Thus God has taken away the livestock of your father and given them to me. 10 In the breeding season of the flock I lifted up my eyes and saw in a dream that the goats that mated with the flock were striped, spotted, and mottled. 11 Then the angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob,’ and I said, ‘Here I am!’ 12 And he said, ‘Lift up your eyes and see, all the goats that mate with the flock are striped, spotted, and mottled, for I have seen all that Laban is doing to you. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and made a vow to me. Now arise, go out from this land and return to the land of your kindred.’” 14 Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there any portion or inheritance left to us in our father's house? 15 Are we not regarded by him as foreigners? For he has sold us, and he has indeed devoured our money. 16 All the wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and to our children. Now then, whatever God has said to you, do.”
17 So Jacob arose and set his sons and his wives on camels. 18 He drove away all his livestock, all his property that he had gained, the livestock in his possession that he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to the land of Canaan to his father Isaac. 19 Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father's household gods. 20 And Jacob tricked 1 31:20 Hebrew stole the heart of; also verses 26, 27 Laban the Aramean, by not telling him that he intended to flee. 21 He fled with all that he had and arose and crossed the Euphrates, 2 31:21 Hebrew the River and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead.
Dive Deeper | Genesis 31:1–21
Family. In-laws. Unresolved conflict. Envy. Deceit. Life is complicated. Jacob's certainly was. He scores points in this episode by obeying God's command to return to the land of Jacob's kindred, giving God credit for taking care of him, explaining his actions to his wives, and leading his family. Yet, he was true to his name, the Deceiver, sneaking away, fearful that his father-in-law, Laban, would try to prevent his departure.
Faced with a similar situation, what would you do? A good start would be to meet with your community group. "The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice." (Proverbs 12:15) Of course, that's after you've done your homework by listening to Todd Wagner's sermon series “Conflict: A Constant Opportunity.”
If Jacob had met with his community group, I hope they would have encouraged him to start by getting the log out of his own eye (Matthew 7:5). Jacob had reasons to resent the way Laban kept changing his wages and the envy expressed by Laban’s boys. Yet, this conflict had been ongoing and increasing over the years, and Jacob did nothing to resolve it. I would have affirmed his decision to obey God's command to return to Canaan, but not by sneaking away, offending Laban, and robbing Laban of the opportunity to say good bye to his daughters. I hope I would have pointed out that God had promised He would be with Jacob (Genesis 31:3) and that Jacob could trust God to protect him. A good memory verse for Jacob (and me) would have been Proverbs 29:25, "The fear of man lays a snare but whoever trusts in the LORD is safe." Another go-to verse for those of us who sometimes act or fail to act out of fear of man is God's exhortation, "I, even I, am he who comforts you. Who are you that you fear mere mortals, human beings, who are but grass, that you forget the LORD your Maker, who stretches out the heavens and lays the foundations of the earth . . . ." (Isaiah 51:12-13a, NIV)
Discussion Questions
1. What key decisions have you made recently? Did you do so in isolation or with the input of community?
2. What are your specific sin struggles? If you haven't already, will you commit to sharing these with your community group so they can encourage you and better help you process the issues and decisions in your life. Memorize two verses that address an area in your life in which you need to grow in Christ-likeness.
3. What unresolved conflict do you need to address? What log in your eye needs removing as a first step? Share with your community group so they can hold you accountable.