Jacob Leaves Laban

Text: Genesis 31:1-55

Introduction

Although the title of today’s message is simply “Jacob Leaves Laban,” we will see that there is actually nothing simple at all about Jacob trying to extricate himself from Laban’s slave-like treatment of him.

In fact, it will become evident that it only thru divine help and intervention that Jacob can succeed… just as it is true of every one of us, that our only hope for deliverance from the enemies of our soul, of our family, of our security is that God must stand for us, must speak authoritatively on our behalf.

I. Jacob Flees Laban’s Oppression (vv.1-21)

vv.1-3 reflect a growth spurt in Jacob’s faith-walk, and form an helpful balance concerning all decision-making.
1. On one hand, Jacob is hearing and observing (and by implication considering this information); on the other hand, the Lord confirms what apparently his thoughts/plans are, giving him permission/blessing to finally leave Laban.
2. Wise decisions do take into account the data of the situation; however, they also wait for God’s direction/timing rather than making a purely pragmatic calculation. What really matters in the final analysis is this: ‘I will be with you.’
In vv.4-13 Jacob has Rachel & Leah meet him in the field (for privacy?), and explains to them his reasons for leaving Laban.
1. Jacob contrasts the character of Laban w/ that of the God: Laban has cheated Jacob constantly, changing his wages 10x! (t reveals an intensity to his trial beyond even what we have read elsewhere.) Yet God has graciously foiled all of Laban’s tricks, and favored Jacob.
2. vv.10-13 Jacob recounts in greater detail the vision he had from the Lord.
In vv.14-16 Rachel & Leah finally agree on something! They see that Laban’s wealth is gone, and that God has been blessing Jacob.
1. One hopes that their response is out of faith, not merely material computation, when they reply in unison: “Hey, whatever God has said to you, do it/follow it/pursue it!” (The fact that they, like Jacob, contrast their own father Laban’s actions with the actions of God does perhaps hint that they are coming to trust in the one true God rather than in Laban’s pagan gods.)
2. If this is the case, Rachel—in particular—still seems to struggle with her past pagan superstitions however, as…
In vv.17-21 Jacob escapes w/ his wives (who are Laban’s daughters!), his flocks (which Laban still counts as his own!), while Laban is away shearing sheep.
1. Jacob knows better than to say goodbye! Would just result in more subterfuge, more maneuvering, more deceptive plotting on Laban’s part.
2. Yet, ironically, as they make their escape, Rachel has a deceptive plot of her own: she stills her father’s ‘gods’ in order to take with them—just in case?

II. Laban Responds to Jacob’s Departure (vv.22-42)

Gen. 31:22-30 | It takes 3 days for Laban to hear of Jacob’s secretive escape, & another week/several hundred miles for Laban to overtake Jacob and confront him.
1. Throughout this entire episode, God’s sovereign protection of Jacob is on display. This meeting would have gone very differently if God had not shielded at every turn!
  - To begin with, even as Laban overtakes Jacob, God overtakes/pounces on Laban in a dream, & says, ‘Beware! Don’t speak good or bad to Jacob!’
2. So, in vv.25-30, when Laban finally does confront Jacob, while he expresses all his opinions of Jacob’s wrong-doing (including stealing Laban’s idols), & his view that everything that Jacob has actually rightfully belongs to him – his entire speech has a unmistakably toothless/harmless quality to it.
  - Because Laban has to admit at the end of all of it: ‘but God already told me I don’t have any say in this matter anyway.’
In vv.31-42, Jacob then replies with authority: ‘Yes, Laban, you’ve wronged me for the last time. You’ve changed my wages 10x, you’ve lied & manipulated me; but no more.’ As he recount all the times/ways Laban has cheated him, we get a glimpse of just how oppressed Jacob was under Laban’s cruel hand – and of how helpless Jacob would be still now, if God had not shown up to defend him!
- Jacob’s reply sounds really strong, and in line w/ God’s promise to protect him, except for one glaring, literally life-threatening mistake. We feel it keenly as the readers, especially, b/c we know something Jacob doesn’t know.

III. Jacob & Laban Make a Treaty (43-55)

Although Laban is still toothlessly insisting that everything Jacob has really belongs to him, Laban displays his inability to stake his claim over Jacob by actually instead suggesting a treaty of sorts: ‘At least promise me you’ll take care of all my stuff since you won’t give it back to me, and since I can’t take it from you.’
1. Jacob does indeed promise to care for Laban’s daughters, now Jacob’s wives, and not to enter back into Laban’s land in order to raid/harm him.
2. Remarkably, the monuments Jacob & Laban set up as witnesses to their treaty are distinctly different: Jacob’s a single stone, Laban’s a heap of stones.
  1. Perhaps pointing to Jacob’s faith in the one true God, and Laban’s faith in his multiple ‘gods’/his little idol figurines.
  2. Jacob’s faith is definitely emphasized as Jacob swears by the ‘fear of Isaac’ & then offers a sacrifice to conclude the treaty.
The whole episode ends in v.55 w/ Laban kissing his daughters & grandchildren goodbye, and blessing them… but with no words of blessing or cursing, of ‘good or bad’ for Jacob!
1. Laban, who came after Jacob w/ a roar, leaves toothless and speechless.
2. Laban, who had tricked & connived to benefit from Jacob’s suffering, instead leaves Jacob wealthy and himself penniless & out-maneuvered.

Conclusion

You and I both are in desperate need of the only One who de-fangs the devouring lion, and says, “Satan, you have nothing to say here.”

His name is Jesus Christ. He is the Messiah of whom it was prophesied: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel!

And when we, through faith, enter into the protection that the Savior Jesus affords, it can truly be said of us: “He has blessed, and – No one! No one! – can reverse it.”