Intro:
LABAN
was a deceitful, self-centered, greedy man, a snake in the grass!!!
This Laban is
Rebekah’s sister. Gen. 24:22,
28-31, 53. Thus Jacob is his
nephew/son-in-law.
CONTRACT
IS UP!!! -
Jacob has paid his 14 yr. Contract –
Has nothing financially to show for it.
Prepares to leave Laban (v.25-26) to
return home to “my country” Promise Land.
Let’s Laban know he wants to leave.
JACOB AND LABAN AGREE UPON WAGES (30:25-36)
Laban Offers to Pay Jacob Wages Laban
recognized the blessings of Jacob [V.
27-28]
Note:
The blessing of the Lord on the believer's life ripples out to the unbeliever.
JACOB’S HERDS ARE GREATLY INCREASED (30:37-43)
Jacob Offers to Work for Specially Marked Cattle (v.29-36)
Laban
agreed but then stacked the deck against Jacob [Verse
34-36]
1.
Laban removed the speckled and the spotted from the flock a three-day journey.
The sheep were either all white or of mixed-coloring whereas the goats were all black or mixed-colored.
Laban separated all the mixed-colored out leaving only the pure colored in Jacob's care.
Jacob
would be responsible to take care of Laban’s flocks that were genetically
speaking,
very unlikely to produce speckled, spotted or dark offspring.
E. Jacob countered with a plan from God [Verse
37-43] Selective breeding
2.
He became exceedingly prosperous because of the LORD.
We must trust God
to prosper us not our human methods or superstitions.
There
are essentially two ways to approach life as a believer:
1.
A superficial belief in God that requires you to take control of your life
2.
A deep faith in God that permits you to yield absolute control of your life to
God
Ps
37:9 “but those who hope in the LORD will inherit the land.”
In
chapter 31:9-13, we are told that God spoke to Jacob in a dream about this very
matters.
JACOB DECIDES TO RETURN TO CANAAN NO MATTER
WHAT (31:1-16)
In
Genesis 31, we find Jacob at a crossroads in his life. He must make a choice.
I
believe God gave Jacob the desire to go back home – 6 years earlier (Gen
30:25)
1.
Laban and his sons turn against Jacob (v.1-2)
2. The Lord tells Jacob to return (v.3)
The
last recorded supernatural appearance that Jacob had received from God was
twenty years earlier while he was still in the land of promise (28:10ff.). But
now Jacob receives a divine directive to return to the land of promise.
a.
“Go back to the
land of your fathers” b.
“I will be with
you”
3. Jacob tells Rachel and Leah of their father’s
injustice to him (v.4-8)
4. He tells of God’s blessing to him (v.9)
Even though Laban was trying to cheat Jacob, God was protecting
him.
Prov 13:22 “A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's
children, but a
sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous.”
5. He tells of God’s dream to him (v.10-13)
6. Rachel and Leah Support Jacob in his Decision (v.14-16)
the
Lord in a personal way. Sometimes the way forward is to go back!
This
may be the first time in quite a while when the sisters Leah and Rachel agreed
on
anything.
They can agree in uniting against a common adversary: their father Laban!
Why?
Because Laban had …
1.
Stolen their inheritance
2.
Treated them like foreigners
3.
Sold them and used up the money (from their dowry)
JACOB FLEES FROM LABAN
(31:17-24)
300 mile trip from Haran to Mts. Of Gilead.
Jacob Flees/Sneeks away while Laban is away shearing
his Sheep (v.17-21)
Rachel
stole Laban’s household idols. Why
did Rachel take them?
The
reason best supported by the text and by archaeology is that Rachel
stole
the household gods in order to establish a future claim on Laban’s family
inheritance.
The household gods were a token of the right to claim a portion of
Laban’s
inheritance and the headship of the family.
1. Laban finds out 3 days later and goes after him (v.22-24)
God
intervenes to keep Laban from harming him, etc.
2.
Laban is warned by God in a dream (God can move/speak to our enemies).
Job 5:12 “[God] thwarts the plans of the crafty, so that their
hands achieve no success.”
LABAN CATCHES JACOB IN MOUNT GILEAD (31:25-42)
LABAN CATCHES JACOB IN MOUNT GILEAD (31:25-42)
1. Laban Makes his Accusations Against Jacob (v.25-30)
“Why
have you deceived me?” If this isn’t the pot calling the kettle black!
Leban
acts like he is a caring father and grandfather who just wanted to say his
goodbye’s AND if only Jacob had let him know, he would have thrown a
big going away party. Right!! Prov 26:23-26 “Like a
coating of glaze over earthenware are fervent lips with an evil heart. A
malicious man disguises himself with his lips, but in his heart he harbors
deceit. Though his speech is charming, do not believe him, for seven
abominations fill his heart. His malice may be concealed by deception, but his
wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.”
2. Jacob Allows Laban to Seek for his false Gods (v.31-35)
Rachel
was sitting on Laban’s gods! What a comical indictment against idolatry!
Jer
10:5 “Like a scarecrow in a melon patch, their idols cannot speak; they must
be
carried
because they cannot walk. Do not fear them; they can do no harm nor can
they
do any good.”
3. Jacob Makes his Accusations Against Laban (v.36-42)
After
the search comes up empty, Jacob unleashes 20 years of pent up
frustration.
Angry = Charah
= “To blaze up in anger”
He
defended his character [Verse
38-41]
a.
He served Laban for 20 years
b.
He was a source of blessing to Laban’s flocks
c.
He bore the cost of lost or stolen animals
It
was customary for a shepherd to bring the carcass of a sheep to the owner as
proof
that
the animal was actually killed by wild animals. Having provided proof, the
shepherd
would be freed from personal responsibility for the loss. But Jacob says
he
didn’t even do this. Instead, he went the extra mile -- he replaced any lost
or
stolen
animals from his own flock.
d.
He more than paid for his wives and flocks
(14
years for Leah and Rachel, 6 years for the flocks, changed his wages 10 times).
And
then trust God to prosper you (Genesis 30:31-33).
He
testified to the sovereignty of God [Verse
42]
LABAN MAKES A COVENANT WITH JACOB (31:43-55)
Jacob and Laban Make a Heap of Stones (v.43-47)
Jacob and Laban Make a Covenant Between Them (v.48-53)
Jacob Makes a Sacrifice to the Lord (v.54)
Laban Returns to Haran in Peace (v.55)
The
long and stormy relationship between Laban and Jacob had finally come to an end!
This
is the last mention of Laban we have in the Bible.
Laban
is an unfortunate example of a worldly, covetous man, one who knows
about the true God. He had seen the reality of God in the life of
Jacob, along with the power of God in His blessing and protection of Jacob. Yet
he followed false Gods. In his vigorous pursuit of worldly success, he lost his family, his
wealth, everything.
Laban
cheated and took advantage of Jacob.
Have you ever been in Jacobs shoes?
How
did you handle?
Is there a chance like Jacob, that he reaped what he sowed (Esau, Isaac).
God
blessed Jacob – God is the chief genetic engineer of the universe, He
caused the animals to come out the way they did, so He made you uniquely you.
GOD
DOESN’T MAKE ANY GARBAGE!!!
God will for us (including protecting us), will be done.
God would not allow Laban (his enemy) to hurt him.
Even by giving him a dream. God
can get our enemies attention too.
God wants to bless us, and treats us so much better than the
Leban’s (enemies). Follow God today!!!
I hope today's message ministered to you.
We hope to have sermons in Audio Format soon!
You may E-mail Pastor Jim at:
jim@communityfellowshipofkane.org