“Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel had stolen the household idols that were her father’s.” Genesis 31:19 (NKJV)
Fast forward from this morning’s post. Jacob continued to work for Laban who continued to change Jacob’s wages multiple times, ever the deceiver! The Angel of the Lord tells Jacob to return to his father’s country. Jacob tells his wives that they are going to leave Laban. Rachel and Leah tell Jacob that they were sold by their father to Jacob as if they were slaves, so let’s go.
Then in verse 19 the narrator inserts that Laban has gone off to shear his sheep (and so will be occupied for awhile). Rachel then “steals” her father’s household idols and takes them with her.
Remember when we first looked at why Jacob was drawn to Rachel – she was beautiful to look at! Well, beauty that is skin deep isn’t worth much. There is an old saying that beauty is as beauty does. The outward appearances may be pretty, but if the actions don’t match the person isn’t worthy of your friendship.
Laban didn’t find out that Jacob, his wives, children and flocks had taken off until 3 days later. It took him 7 days to catch up with the caravan. Laban accuses Jacob of not allowing him to say goodbye to his daughters and grandchildren, which was true.
Now God had come to Laban in a dream and had told him to be careful with Jacob to do neither good nor bad to him. He then acknowledges that maybe Jacob was longing for his own father’s household and he could understand that. But WHY did you steal the gods (idols)?
Jacob knew nothing about any idols and would not have sanctioned having them brought with the family. Laban looked through everything with Jacob’s permission, but was unable to locate the idols (because Rachel was sitting on her saddle with the idols in the saddle).
Beautiful Rachel was a thief and liar even to her own father. Yet, Jacob’s love for her was so blind that he could not see the truth of her character. Yes, God did eventually allow her to have a child – one that God used mightily for the good of God’s people. Joseph’s story will come later in our study. But the lesson to learn today is that I need to have the inner beauty be more important to me than any outer beauty. I want God’s love and light to shine through me to all those around.
Listen to “Shine Jesus Shine.”
Published on MyBibleRoom.com 1/15/24, 5:00 pm