The ole father-in-law, son-in-law confrontation. As we read previously, Jacob had, had enough of Laban’s trickster moves with his daughters, his cattle, and his wages. He decided, it is time to go back and tell mama how slick her brother is.
So he left, but Laban wasn’t going to let his blessings go that easy. Read it below:
Genesis 31:22-42 KJV
[22] And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled. [23] Also, he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days’ journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead. [24] Moreover God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
[25] Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead. [26] And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword?
[27] Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp? [28] And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.
Power of My Hand to Hurt
[29] It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad. [30] And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father’s house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?
[31] And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me. [32] With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.
[33] And Laban went into Jacob’s tent, and into Leah’s tent, and into the two maidservants’ tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah’s tent, and entered into Rachel’s tent. [34] Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel’s furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.
Jacob Got Angry
[35] And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched, but found not the images. [36] And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?
[37] Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both. [38] This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.
[39] That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night. [40] Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.
Wages Changed Ten Times
[41] Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times. [42] Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.
Brief Comments
Laban was told that Jacob had fled, so he lighted upon his horse with his sons and took off. “Giddy up,” they were three days behind, but Jacob was traveling with a family and loads of cattle. After seven days they finally caught them in the mountain of Gilead.
However, prior to this the LORD came to Laban in a dream and told him to be cool about what he does or says to Jacob. “What are you doing and what have you done in stealing my stuff and leaving unawares,” Laban asked Jacob.
“You’ve carried my daughters away like they were captives, taken with swords,” he said to Jacob. He probed Jacob about fleeing secretly. “I would have sent you away in great songs and mirth; you didn’t allow the family to kiss my sons and daughters; Jacob this was foolish,” Laban the Syrian related.
Laban Wanted to Lay Hands on Jacob
“Do you know,” he continued, “It was in my power and right to hurt you, but the GOD of your father told me to stand down and take heed not to speak good or bad. Now, I know you’re trying to get home and see your father, go ahead, but at least return my idols.”
“You have my gods right,” he asked Jacob? Jacob responded he was afraid because he thought Laban would take his daughters back by force. Concerning Laban’s idols, Jacob said whoever stole them, let them not live, but he did not know Rachel had them.
He allowed Laban to search his stuff. Rachel had them but she put them in the camel’s furniture and sat on it. Laban couldn’t find it. Jacob was upset to be pinned a thief by Laban and snapped. He railed on how he was pursued, how he was treated, how the last twenty years went with his wages, cattle, and working in difficult conditions.
Wages Changed Ten Times
He railed on how his wages changed ten times as he worked 14 years for his daughters and 6 years for the cattle. Jacob acknowledged that had it not been for the GOD of his father Abraham and Isaac, Laban would have sent him away empty-handed.
He also let his father-in-law know GOD has seen his affliction and rebuked Laban when he pursued. Thus Laban caught up and confronted Jacob, but it appears Jacob also confronted him.
More 5 Minute Studies
From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. The disciples asked, “Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel?” And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel.
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