For NIV reading click here http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2030:25-31:55&version=NIV
Very strange and interesting stories here. Jacob's wealth in flocks increases, Jacob sets out to return home after many years away in service to Laban for marriage rights to his two dauthers. Jacob doesn't tell Laban about his plans to leave, but he hears about it, pursues Jacob but is then warned in a dream not to do harm.
Laban accuses (rightly) them of stealing his 'household gods,' but Rachel, who had stolen them, deceives her father about it. So Jacob, not knowing about Rachel's theivery, unloads a lot of pent up anger at Laban (31:36-42) for his injustice toward Jacob.
Chapter 31 ends with Laban requesting a covenant with Jacob (though Laban seems to set the terms which Jacob agrees to). They both mark the covenant with a pillar of stones and closed it with a meal.
Reflections, questions, applications...
Prayers,
Matt
In this whole section, I get the sense that God simply chose to get knee deep in the mud of human scheming and pull off the divine promises making use of some of their junk. It's much like the scene in Apollo 13 where the scientists have to find a way for the astronauts in space design a water filtration system with nothing but a sock, and a few others common items...and they did it!
ReplyDeleteGod carries forward His promises that bring blessing without exempting His people from hardship. Jacob has a rough go of it, but does really well with the injustice of Laban regarding marriage to his daughters. But then Jacob returns to his scheming in response to all of Laban's scheming, and God speaks, God works, God blesses, protects and advances what He wanted to regardless of how well His people conducted themselves. God doesn't always do that...it is no formula, but it does give us insight about God's very patient character and faithfulness to His promises.
Roger that , Houston .
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