May the mumbling commence!
Rachel shows her true colors. She has a difficult time leaving her old ways
behind… even as she tries to choose the Lord.
And her actions cause even more need for deception and hurt. Read from Peterson’s The Message:
Laban was off shearing his
sheep. Rachel stole her father’s
household gods. And Jacob had concealed his plans so well that Laban the Aramean had no
idea what was going on – he was totally in the dark. Jacob got away with everything he had and was soon across
the Euphrates headed for the hill country of
Gilead.
Three days
later, Laban got
the news: “Jacob’s run off.” Laban
rounded up his relatives and chased after him.
Seven days later
they caught up with him in the hill country
of Gilead. That night God came to
Laban the Aramean in a dream and said, “Be careful what you do to
Jacob, whether good
or bad.”
When
Laban reached him,
Jacob’s tents were pitched in the Gilead mountains;
Laban pitched tents
there, too.
“What
do you mean,” said
Laban, “by keeping me in the dark and sneaking
off, hauling my daughters off like prisoners of war?
Why did you run off like a thief in the night? Why didn’t you
tell me? Why,
I would have sent
you off with a great celebration – music,
timbrels, flutes!
But you wouldn’t permit me so much as a kiss
for my daughters and
grandchildren. It was a stupid thing for you to do. If I had a mind to, I could destroy you right
now, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, ‘Be careful
what you do
to Jacob, whether
good or bad.’ I understand. You left because you were homesick. But why did you
steal my household gods?” (Genesis 31:19-30)
Now read the same passage from the NIV translation:
When Laban had gone to shear his
sheep, Rachel stole her father's household gods. Moreover, Jacob
deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him he was running away. So he fled with all he had, and crossing the
River, he headed for the hill country of
Gilead.
On the third day Laban
was told that Jacob
had fled. Taking
his relatives with
him, he pursued Jacob for seven days and caught up with him in
the hill country of Gilead. Then God came to Laban the
Aramean in a dream at night and said to him, "Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad."
Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead
when Laban overtook
him, and Laban and his relatives
camped there too. Then Laban said to Jacob,
"What have you
done? You've deceived me, and you've carried off my daughters like captives in war. Why did you run
off secretly and deceive me? Why didn't you tell me, so
I could send you away with joy and singing to the music of tambourines and
harps? You didn't even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters good-by. You have done a foolish thing. I have the power to harm you; but last night the God of your father said
to me, 'Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.'
Now you have gone off because you longed to
return to your father's house. But why did
you steal my gods?" (Genesis 31:19-30)
What did God tell Laban not to do? Did it have to do with actions
(Peterson)? Or did it have to do with
words (NIV)? All the other translations
also write about the act of speech.
Be careful what you say.
It’s an important concept… especially at a parting of ways. Be careful what you say should not be left
out. We never know when it will be the
last time that we see someone alive. It’s
good to part on amiable terms.
Did Laban the Aramean listen to God? Laban he had the power to harm or destroy
Jacob, and he told him so. In fact,
Laban intimated that that was his plan… until God intervened on behalf of
Jacob. He had used precious time to round
up his relatives before pursuing Jacob.
Laban did not like a taste of his own medicine. Laban hated to be deceived. That’s why he was so hot under the
collar. And to top it all off, his
household gods were missing. He
suspected Jacob of this theft.
Problems, problems, problems! Rachel had thrown another reason for
suspicion on the escape. How would this
problem be solved? We’ll find out
tomorrow!
Enough mumbling for now…
Peace Out
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