Gen. 31:14-55

In a nutshell one might view this part of the story like this:

·        Jacob runs away (v14-21).  It is at God’s command but we still see Jacob “stealing away” (v20) with his wives now hating their father (v14) and Rachel even stealing the family idols (v19).  

·        Laban runs after Jacob (v22-42).  This might have been a tragic situation were it not for some of the grandest words in Scripture in v24: “But God”.  Laban seems to have more respect for God than does Jacob.  Laban knows God has blessed Jacob (30:27).  Now he is fully submissive to God’s warning (31:29).  Notice Jacob’s angry reproof of Laban (v36-42) after Laban’s fruitless search for the family idols.  Jacob acknowledges God’s role but still wants credit as the “tough guy” who makes things happen.  The flesh is most deceptive when it is “God and me” (cf. Phil. 3:3-7).

·        God runs ahead of Jacob (v43-55).  All are subject to the Sovereign God, even the wicked (v24).  God insists on this.  He saves us in such a way that leaves man no reason to boast (Eph. 2:8-9).  He saved Israel through Gideon only in a way that brought Him glory (Judges 7:2).  He chooses the weak so that no flesh can glory in His presence (1 Cor. 1:29).  Paul was given a thorn in the flesh so he would not glory in himself (2 Cor. 1:29).  The result was that he (Paul) would not glory except in the cross of Christ (Gal. 6:14).  Our story here is the same: God will work in such a way that brings Him glory.  Jacob continues to grow in his realization that God is in fact the One who is bringing about his successes.  For the first time we see him involved in worship involving the shedding of blood, though he still knows God as the God of his father’s (v53-54).

The course of Jacob’s life continues to be one of seeking to do for himself what God had promised to do.  In Ch. 31 we see him beginning to see that it is in fact God’s work.  But he still puts confidence in the flesh.  He has not truly submitted himself to the Almighty God.

Believers are characterized as those who “have no confidence in the flesh” (Phil. 3:3).  They have a “to live is Christ, to die is gain” attitude (Phil. 1:21).  Perhaps it would be helpful for us to be reminded of Paul’s words in Phil 3:8-11:

·        v8: the only true gain is Christ.  Our best fleshly efforts must be seen as rubbish.

·        v9: the only true righteousness is that of Christ.  It is not our goodness but that which God gives to us in Christ.

·        v10: the only true satisfaction is found in knowing Christ.  

Slowly, painfully, Jacob is coming to recognize that God is the One who has been working in his situation and Who can be trusted with what is still ahead.  Are we coming to know Christ in this way?