The Jig is Up and Jacob Flees From Laban

And by the jig is up, we by no means suggest Jacob was doing anything illegal. It was just that the hustled realized their hostage blessing of holding Jacob captive was up. Ole Jacob with the power to go against man in his craftiness, knew when a job was done.

Just look a man in his face and test his spirit; his countenance will give him away.

Genesis 31:1-21 KJV

[1] And he heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father’s; and of that which was our father’s hath he gotten all this glory. [2] And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.

[3] And the Lord said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee. [4] And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock, [5] And said unto them, I see your father’s countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.

[6] And ye know that with all my power I have served your father. [7] And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me. [8] If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked.

[9] Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.

[10] And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled. [11] And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.

[12] And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee. [13] I am the God of Beth-el, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.

[14] And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?

[15] Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money. [16] For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children’s: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.

[17] Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels; [18] And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padan-aram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.

[19] And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father’s. [20] And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled. [21] So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead.

Brief Comments

The rumor mill started to spread to Laban’s sons, even to Laban that Jacob had taken them. Smiling faces were no longer smiling, but frowning, upset, and frustrated. Jacob took good notice of the change of countenance of Laban and others.

Then he had a dream and the LORD told him it was time to return to the land of his fathers. Jacob then called his wives, Rachel and Leah, and told them their father is no longer as happy with him as before. He let them know GOD is with him and that he served their dad with all his might.

Jacob reminded his wives that their dad deceived him upon arrival and changed his wages at least ten times. However, GOD did not allow Laban to hurt Jacob; GOD took away his cattle and gave them to him.

Rachel and Leah Side with Their Husbands

Jacob told his wives, the LORD had watched how Laban had done him, so HE repaid him with the cattle that were ringstraked, speckled, grisled, and spotted. The GOD of Bethel commanded Jacob to get up and leave; Rachel and Leah were totally on board, they knew there was no inheritance for them in Laban’s house if they stayed anyway.

In fact, Laban sold them to Jacob and would probably take them back, repackage them and sell them again. So Jacob got up in the night, took all his goods and cattle, and left to return to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.

When Laban went to shear his sheep, he realized his images (gods) were missing and went to find out what happened and learned that Jacob had moved out. Rachel actually took the images. Laban was shocked and upset.

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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