A Lamp Unto My Feet Bible Study Website
GENESIS 31:14-55
Lesson #47
DOING THE RIGHT THING IN A WRONG WAY
- Memory verse: Heb 12:14
- Read Gen 31:1-16 Jacob’s decision to leave
- Jacob and his family decide to leave Laban’s household to return to the Promised Land.
- “Iam the God of Bethel” (13)
- In Gen 12 we saw that Bethel had a special meaning to Abraham. It meant = house of God.
- In many instances in the Bible, the city of Bethel is a starting point of the realization of who God is. It is a place of re-dedication to God where one does his first works over again. (Rev 2:5)
- Abraham returned here after wandering from God in Egypt. (Gen 13:3)
- Now we see Jacob return there in Bethel.
- Jacob and his family decide to leave Laban’s household to return to the Promised Land.
- Read Gen 31:17-35 Jacob’s departure and Laban’s pursuit
- Discussion: What do you think was right and what was wrong in the way Jacob left Laban’s household
| What was right | What was wrong |
| Returning to the Promised Land | Leaving without telling Laban |
| Obedience to God who told them to leave | Leaving in the cover of darkness |
| Agreement among Jacob and his wives to leave | Stealing Laban’s household gods |
| Lack of faith to trust God to release him from Laban without bad feelings. |
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- Why do you think Rachel took her father’s household gods (the Teraphim)?
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- Background:
- The word Teraphim is a Syrian word which means = to enquire.
- In heathen cultures each household had an altar and idols that supposedly guarded the house. It was custom to pass the household idols down to one’s heir. Therefore, it came to mean that whoever possessed the household god’s, inherited the household leadership and wealth.
- The household idols were also used to tell the future (to enquire) and therefore to bring good luck. (Eze 21:21)
- What does this tell us about Rachel?
- She is definitely her father’s daughter, having learned the same characteristics of deception.
- Her faith in God is questionable
- Exactly why she took the idols is not clearly stated in the Bible. Most probably, either she wanted to insure a safe journey and good luck along the way, or she did not want her father to seek wisdom from the household idols as to Jacob’s whereabouts. And perhaps she wanted to insure her inheritance.
- Background:
- Rachel’s deception (35):
- “The custom of women” means = either a woman in her monthly period which was considered unclean (legally stipulated later in Lev 15:19) or a woman expecting a baby.
- It is very likely she is pregnant with Benjamin at this point.
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- Read Gen 31:36-42 Jacob’s justification
- Evidently Jacob did not know Rachel had stolen the idols. He therefore, justifies himself and his actions before Laban. Jacob even knows that God spoke to Laban in a dream. (42)
- God revealed to Jacob his dealings with Laban. Why?
- To show Jacob that God could have caused Laban to release them with good feelings.
- Jacob took the situation into his own hands by leaving deceptively.
- “The God of my father, the God Abraham, and the fear of Isaac” (42)(53)
- There are two meanings to the translated word “fear” in this context:
- Either the word fear means = the revered one and refers to the holiness of God; his aloofness.
- The word can also mean = kinsman and refers to the closeness of God in relationship and his nearness in proximity.
- Read Gen 31:43-55 The non-aggression pact between Jacob and Laban
- The conditions of the treaty:
- The two promised not to deceive each other further.
- They promised not to trespass on one another’s territory.
- The boundary marker:
- Each gave the marker a name:
- Laban called it “Jegar Sahadutha” which is Aramaic for = witness heap.
- Jacob called it “Galeed” which is Hebrew for witness heap and a word play on the name of the area Gilead.
- It was also called “Mizpah” which means = watchtower (49)
- What do you think Gen 31:49 means?
- The Mizpah benediction, “The Lord watch between thee and me” = this benediction is frequently quoted out of context and considered to be a loving benediction between 2 people.
- The actual meaning is not a loving benediction but rather a curse. It means “may God watch over the non-aggression pact while we are separated from each other, and that if I fail to live up to my end of the agreement either by deceiving the other or by trespassing, may God curse me for breaking my word.”
- This marker became the boundary between Israel and Syria. This story marks the break between the Israelites and the Aramaens.
- The boundary marker:
- Laban’s and Jacob’s reference to God (53)
- Laban’s oath reflects his belief in more than one God for the verb in this sentence is plural.
- Jacob’s oath reflects his belief in one God for the verb is singular.
- The conditions of the treaty:
- Application:
- The lesson we can learn from Jacob’s life here is to keep our relationships with others honest. If we do, there is no need for a non-aggression pact because we will have established a reputation of fair dealing. Therefore, God will not have to be the umpire between the two.
- When leaving a difficult relationship situation, let God work out the release so there are no hard feelings.
- Doing the right thing in a wrong way is not the best plan.
Homework
Genesis 32:1-23
- Application of Gen 31:14-55
- Consider your own troubled personal relationships with other people. In what ways do you need to trust God more to smooth out these relationships?
- Preparation for Gen 32:1-23
- Read Gen 32:1-8
- What was the test of Jacob’s faith?
- In what ways does Jacob demonstrate a lack of faith in God?
- Read Gen 32:9-12 Jacob’s spiritual preparation
- Evaluate Jacob’s prayer and write what characteristics of prayer you see here.
- Read Gen 32:13-23 Jacob’s physical preparation
- Evaluate Jacob’s physical preparation in light of his character. What does this tell you about Jacob?
- Read Gen 32:1-8
- Memory verse: Rom 7:23
