Jacob Moves His Flocks to Canaan

Genesis 31:1–24
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)

I often tell my people that I don’t want any fellow who has a job working for me ... More

Commitment

God could not allow Jacob to settle forever in the land from which years before he had called Abraham, so He allowed things to turn sour. Animosity was growing against him by Laban and his sons (vv. 1-2). Also, God had told Jacob to return to his own land (v. 3). Up to this point Jacob had been motivated by two goals: to marry Rachael and to get rich. He had achieved both, but neither brought contentment because neither money nor marriage can fulfil our deepest needs.

Jacob decides to leave Mesopotamia secretly and move his family and possessions to Canaan (vv. 4-9). He held a family conference with his two wives, Rachel and Leah, who agreed to move. They discussed Laban’s dislike for Jacob (vv. 4-5) and Laban’s dishonesty towards him (vv. 6-9). Jacob confessed that his prosperity was not a result of his cleverness but because of God’s grace (vv. 10-12). It had absolutely nothing to do with his own conniving but in God’s guidance (v.13). Jacob’s family all readily agreed with him that the time had come to leave. Jacob, his wives, and his children got on camels and left for his father, Isaac’s home in Canaan (v. 17). He took with him all his possessions he had gained and the livestock he had acquired (v. 18). Rachel even stole the household idols and took them with her (v. 19). They did this without telling Laban (vv. 20-21).

When Laban arrived home from a trip, he discovered that Jacob was gone (v. 22). He was furious to find that his daughters, his grandchildren, and all of Jacob’s vast holdings, which he had planned to seize, were also gone. He quickly gathered his forces and took off after Jacob. It took Laban seven days to catch up to Jacob (v. 23). As soon as he spied Jacob, he prepared for a violent onslaught the next day. But in a dream that night God told Laban not to harm Jacob (v. 24).

Application

As in the case of Jacob it can be a great blessing when the world, which looks so attractive, turns sour. It is my desire to always keep God at the top of my priority list.