Genesis 31

Scripture:  Genesis 31:1-21

Observation:  Laban and his sons aren't too happy.  They see how Jacob prospers and are jealous, talking amongst themselves and treating Jacob poorly.  The Lord tells Jacob it's time to go back home, so Jacob speaks to Leah and Rachel, his wives.  He points out how their father has cheated him out of his wages 10 times, even though Jacob has served him faithfully.  God has seen the injustice and has blessed Jacob repeatedly because of this, and in a dream tells Jacob to return to his father's homeland, and God will be with him.  Both Rachel and Leah realize what Jacob says is true; their father not only cheated Jacob, but cheated them out of their inheritance as well.  They agree to obey the Lord and follow their husband.  Jacob waits until Laban and his sons are shearing the sheep, then he gathers his wives, children, slaves and livestock, and sets out to Canaan.  Rachel takes her father's household gods, his idols, and packs them with her things.

Application:  Laban behaved like a scoundrel to his nephew and his own daughters.  How shameful that he didn't protect his own family and took advantage of them!  Because of Jacob, Laban was blessed, but because of his avarice that blessing would leave him.  If I don't learn to be content with all that God has given me, I can become like Laban, taking advantage of others for my own benefit.  May the Lord never permit such a thing!

Prayer:  Father, it is my desire to honor You with all that I have.  It isn't possible to do so if the things I have matter more to me than You do, or if I lie and deceive to acquire things that matter nothing in eternity.  I want to have that kind of perspective, Lord, one that sees earthly things as temporary and desires only that which is eternal.  Help me to view things in their proper perspective, and to elevate the Kingdom above all material possessions.  In Christ Jesus' name, Amen.