BiblicalMastery Buddy's bible blog

Lesson 30

Obstacles along the Journey

Genesis 31:22-55

Me-

Obstacles and challenges have been a way of life for me as I am sure they have been and are for many of you.  I come to realize that many of them and probably most have been for my own good.  They have quite often kept me from making big mistakes.  For example I once had the idea that I would like to get into the radio business but found that the opportunities just were not there to pursue that career.  There have been other things for which I have either not been qualified to do or the path was too long to even try.

I sometimes think that I can do more than I am capable of doing.  Even when I have tried to avail myself of training available hoping that it will lead to something exciting often times it has led to another closed door.  What I am still learning is even though I do not understand why doors are closed I have to depend on God who allows me to use what he has given me to serve Him. God truly is teaching me to honestly evaluate myself.  Like all other Christians He has gifted me for serving Him.  To try to go beyond those gifts and abilities would be a prideful thing.  It would say that I know better than God what is right for me.  May I never forget this lesson.    

We-

The church faces obstacles which it has not had to deal with since its beginning.  Even though there have been times when it has fought among itself there has never been the dilemma that has been placed before it as it there is today.  A good example of the uphill battle for the souls of men was on display at the Democratic Convention recently.  Over fifty percent of the delegates did not want the platform of their party to mention God or acknowledge Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. 

We are rapidly heading to becoming a secular nation.  Probably not since the first century have we seen the percentage of people who want no part of Christianity as we do today.  Not only are we having to deal with a world that wants to marginalize the church, the greater threat is the watering down and liberalizing of the gospel.  Many in church today do not want to be restricted to following the teachings of the Bible but want to decide for themselves what they want to believe.  Just look at the views that are held on things like homosexuality and abortion.  These are good indicators of the drift in which we find ourselves.  God is allowing these things to test whether we will remain faithful to His calling.   

 

 

 

God-

Genesis 31:22-23

Jacob may have escaped but he had not left Laban behind.  When Laban learned that Jacob had left he went after him.  He travelled for seven days and finally caught up with him.  There were several reasons that Laban could not let Jacob go.  All of them came as a result of his pride.  He could not conceive that he had been outsmarted by his son-in-law and was not about to allow him to get away with it.  His constant changing of Jacob’s wages showed a mindset that believed that what belonged to Jacob was his.  The final thing may have been that he viewed him as a good luck charm, who he determined had brought prosperity to his household.

1. What action did Laban take upon discovering that Jacob had left?
2. Why did he pursue Jacob?
3. What does this show us about the man Laban?
4. Why could an individual never be satisfied with what he had?
5. What did he really think of Jacob?
6. Which are we more like Jacob or Laban?
7. What qualities do you like or dislike in both of these men?

Genesis 31:24

The fact that God appeared to Laban would indicate that he intended to bring harm to Jacob.  God indicated to him that he better be very careful what he said or did when he caught up with Jacob.  God was telling him that He was on Jacob’s side in this matter.  Unknown to Jacob at this point God was keeping His promise to protect him and be with him wherever he went.  This is an example of God working behind the scenes for the well being of his chosen one.

1. Why did God appear to Laban?
2. What was the meaning of His words?
3. What does the warning indicate that might be behind the reason that Laban would even bother to pursue Jacob?
4. What does this say about the way God is looking out for us even when we do not know it?
5. How has He worked behind the scenes in your life?
6. What evidence do you have that this was occurring?

Genesis 31:25-29

Although there is no mention what Laban planned to do when he found Jacob it is obvious that the vision he had seen and the words of God had certainly changed his mind.  Before Jacob was able to say anything, Laban launched into a verbal barrage intending to demoralize and intimidate him.  As has been seen Laban was very accomplished in the art of intimidation.  His words still carried a tone of accusations. Once again he made himself appear as a reasonable person who now considered what had been done to him as a violation of the trust in place between the two men. His remarks carried with them an underlying of bitterness.  There were a series of lies spoken by a man who had no principles.  He said:

• He felt betrayed by Jacob’s actions.
• Jacob had kidnapped his family.
• He would have given Jacob a big send off with a feast which would have included music.
• He did not get a chance to say goodbye to his daughters and grandchildren with a kiss.

His final words were to blame Jacob for doing a foolish thing by leaving.  One thing that can be seen from all of the rhetoric is that Laban was good at intimidation. All of these words ended up with a big “but.”  All Laban could do was use words.  He had been warned by God to keep anger and pride under control.  Jacob was to be treated civilly.  No harm was to come to him or his children.

1. If God had not intervened what would Laban probably had done?
2. What did Laban hope to accomplish with his initial barrage of accusations?
3. What do his words say about how he truly felt?
4. Of them which of them can be viewed as true?
5. What was his motive by even speaking them?
6. What does the fact that godless Laban would regard the words of God as binding on the actions he wanted to take say about his understanding of God?
7. Why did he repeat the command of God?

Genesis 31:30

Laban then changed the point of attack.  By stating he understood why Jacob had wanted to return home to his family, he switched the tone of his words and tried to blindside Jacob with another accusation.  He wanted to know why Jacob had taken his gods.  If indeed Jacob had done such a thing Laban, in his mind, would be justified in carrying out punishment to fit the crime. Of course Jacob did not know anything about the theft since Rachel had secretly taken them. Surely even God would not condone stealing of a person’s property.  God, however, allowed Laban to play right into Jacob’s hands with his unfounded claim because it would become the means by which Jacob would be freed from Laban forever.

1. Why did Laban suddenly change his approach?
2. How would the accusation allow him to accomplish his agenda?
3. How would these new words allow him to circumvent the warnings of God?
4. How does God sometimes use the words of an enemy to trap them?

Genesis 31:31

Jacob was honest.  He was afraid that if anything, Laban would have sent him away empty handed.  For twenty years he had seen how that man had operated and did not trust him for one moment.  This is the reason that God allowed for Laban to catch up with Jacob.  That incident was to be one of the turning points of Jacob’s life.  If he did not deal with it he would forever be the servant and slave of Laban no matter he might, maybe not physically, but in his mind.  Laban was an obstacle in the way of whatever happiness and sense of success that Jacob might have in the future.  Unless Jacob dealt with right him then and right there Laban would always have control over him.

1. What do you think of Jacob’s admission of fear?
2. Why was it important for Jacob to deal with it at that point in his life?
3. In what way did his response cut through all of the accusations of Laban in verses 26-28?
4. In what ways do you see others trying to control people?
5. Why does work or not work?
6. What is the greatest defense against such activity?

Genesis 31:32-35

Jacob had already shared why he left now he dealt with the last question Laban raised.  He was confident enough that no one in his family would have taken the gods that he offered Laban the opportunity to search throughout all the tents for his property. Nothing was found in Jacob’s, Leah’s, Bilhah’s or Zilpah’s tents.  When he came to Rachel’s tent she feigned not feeling well to keep him from doing and extensive search.  She was the one who had the gods and had hidden them in under the camel’s saddle upon which she was reclining.  Finding nothing he had to return to Jacob empty handed.

1. Why did Jacob allow Laban to search in all of the tents?
2. Why did Laban start with Jacob’s tent?
3. Why did he accept Rachel’s reason for not getting up?
4. How do you think he felt when he had to return to Jacob empty handed?

Genesis 31:36-37

Finally, Jacob stood up to Laban.  He asked a series of strongly worded questions which he knew that his father-in-law could not answer. Contending with him he demanded to know:

• How had he transgressed against Laban?
• What sin had caused him to be so hotly pursued?
• What of Laban’s had been found among all of Jacob’s possessions?

His final words, in this exchange, were a command to see the goods that Laban had claimed to have been stolen.  The humiliation of Laban would  be on view for all of his family to see.

 

1. Why did he use such strong terms as transgression and sin?
2. Why was Jacob now able to speak to Laban as he did?
3. Why did he ask those specific questions?
4. How could Laban respond?
5. What would this mean for a man who was as proud as Laban?

Genesis 31:38-41

Without waiting for Laban to respond Jacob summarized his treatment at the hands of his father-in-law.  The thing that is missing is Jacob’s complicity in some of the incidences.  He did not even say that all the things were bad. The events included spoke of:

• His twenty-years of service
• How the flocks had thrived
• How he had bore all losses whether killed by beast or stolen
• Working day and night.
• Serving him for fourteen years for the Leah and Rachel
• Six additional years taking care of Laban’s flocks and building his own wealth.
• Having his wages changed ten different times.

 

1. Why did Jacob not let Laban respond to the first set of questions before he spoke of his treatment at the hands of his father-in-law?
2. How well did he cover what had happened?
3. What is missing in his description of all that happened?
4. Which were positive and negative things that Jacob mentioned?
5. Why did he not just mention those things that showed the character of Laban?

Genesis 31:42

The way Jacob phrased his words gave a strong indication that he still did not have a personal relationship with God.  He called Him the God of Abraham and Isaac.  There is strange reference to the “fear of Isaac.”  This may have been letting Laban know that Isaac was a powerful and wealthy man and there would consequences if Laban took action against him. He then felt vindicated because God had interceded for him and protected him by stopping Laban from harming him.

1. What tells us that Jacob still did not have the relationship with God that God wanted for him?
2. Why did he refer to the fear of his father Isaac?
3. What understanding did Jacob have of God’s role in all that he had recited to Laban?
4. After looking at all that has been said in what ways was Jacob justified in his anger?
5. How may he have handled it differently?
6. What would you do in similar circumstances?
7. What does the way we handle adversity say about our relationship with God and our witness to the world?
8. In what ways did Jacob lose the opportunity to impact Laban’s life differently?
9. What was really going on between these two men?

Genesis 31:43-53

After having heard Jacob, Laban still showed his unwillingness to admit that he was part of the problem.  His response was that everything that Jacob had still belonged to him including Leah and Rachel and all of the children.  He knew that to push to have everything returned to him would bring the wrath of God, so he begrudgingly asked Jacob to make a covenant with him. When Jacob agreed, a heap of stones was made.  They then sat down and ate together. Each man called it “heap of witness” according to their language. The covenant as stated by Laban put all the responsibility carrying it out on Jacob’s shoulders.  The provisions were:

• Jacob would not mistreat his wives
• He would not take other wives
• That neither man would pass the heap of witness to do harm to the other

To violate any of them would, although not stated, give Laban the right to violate the agreement and take from Jacob what he still considered his.  These were, however, veiled and empty threats that both men knew that Laban did not have the means to carry out.  Hypocritically, he called on God to be the witness and judge of the one, namely Jacob, who broke the covenant.  Whether Jacob realized it or not that was the moment when he became free from Laban. He for his part only called once again on the fear of Isaac as the final arbiter of the pact.

1. What had Jacob’s retelling the history of his treatment at the hands of Laban done to their relationship?
2. Why could Laban not admit he was in the wrong?
3. Who appeared to be the winner in these negotiations?
4. Why were the inherent threats listed in provisions without meaning?
5. Why was Jacob willing to agree to the terms?
6. What was in it for Jacob?
7. How did Laban show the hypocrisy in the making the agreement?
8. Why did Jacob once again call on Isaac rather than God as final judge?

Genesis 31:54-55

It can only be assumed that the sacrifice that Jacob made was to God, because there is no mention of God’s name.  The sacrifice may have been to indicate to all that there was now a possible end to the nightmare of the last twenty years.  The family then had a feast as a uneasy truce prevailed. Then all parties spent the night on the mountain. 

The final must have been bittersweet for Laban.  He had come expecting to recoup all that he believed belonged to him only to be stymied in his efforts.  He left with only the memory of the goodbye kisses of his daughters and grandchildren and returned home.  He is never mentioned again.

1. Why did Jacob make a sacrifice?
2. Why was God’s name not mentioned?
3. What had Laban hoped to gain by his journey?
4. Why was he not able to achieve his goal?
5. With what did he return home?
6. Who were the winners and losers in this whole episode?
7. Where was Jacob in his spiritual walk?
8. What did Jacob truly have at this point?
9. Why was it necessary for Jacob’s sake that this whole incident take place?

You-

• As far it lies within your power make every effort to be a person of integrity in all your dealings with others.
• Do not make excuses for yourself in treatment of others?
• Even if you believe you are just do not tear down another person.
• Before acting or speaking consider what kind of witness those things would be for Jesus?
• As hard as it is follow the tenet that it is better to be harmed than to take revenge because to do otherwise does not bring glory to God.
• Pray that you will have strength to face any adversity, obstacle and challenge along the journey of life.

We-

God gave us a detail account of this encounter to see that the way humans handle a situation apart from God only leads to defeated and bitter lives as the consequences of selfish behavior.  God does not want to be part of any such behavior.  He calls the church to be a place where love and respect are upmost in our hearts.  He did not give us the command to love our neighbor for no reason at all. Ingrained in that commandment is the idea that our love for our neighbor is a reflection and indication of our love for Him.  When we do not care for those around us we need to ask if we truly love God.  Read John 13:34 and the book of 1 John to see what is expected of us.

Like Jacob in the lesson today we can be sure that the devil will throw up all types of roadblocks in our path to keep us from living Christ-like lives.  We can only have victory over him when we, unlike Jacob and Laban, turn to Him for solutions.  His word and time spent on our knees will help us in the ongoing battle with him. There is much that we can do to be a good witness to our faith.  Jacob and Laban did not get it right because they had developed a strong adversarial attitude towards each other.  Let us look for ways to work together to move God’s kingdom forward that all may be winners and not losers.

Additional Notes:

WM-If Laban had listened to the Lord while Jacob lived with him, he would have not found himself in another confrontation with Jacob.  When he caught up with Jacob he heeded God’s warning and to be careful how he spoke. (Gen. 31:24, 29)

C-The balance of power shifted from Laban to Jacob.  No longer could Laban dictate what was to be done.  God made sure that Laban would be answerable to Him for any action he took against Jacob. (Gen. 31:24-30, 36-42)

E-Laban had his own encounter with God.  In a dream he was told emphatically that he was not do anything or say anything that in any way would bring harm to Jacob.       (Gen. 31:24, 29)

UE-God once again intervened on Jacob’s behalf.  He warned Laban not to harm him. (Gen. 31:24-29)

WM-Laban could not resist one last opportunity in catching Jacob in some kind of wrong doing so he accused him of taking the household idols. The idols were taken by Rachel not Jacob. (Gen. 31:30, 36-37)

RT-Jacob finally found the courage to confront Laban for all the things he, as Jacob’s father-in-law, had done to him over a twenty year period.  When Laban accused Jacob of taking the household gods he stepped over line of how much abuse that Jacob was willing to endure.  He finally became a man and not a doormat.  It is was a small step, but an important one. (Gen. 31:36-41)

GC-A Christian perseveres and is honest in his dealings with others even when wronged.  This was a lesson Jacob needed to learn after deceiving Esau and Isaac. (Gen. 31:6-9)   GC-Jacob acknowledged the vital role God played in protecting him during his time with Laban. (Gen. 31:42)

GC-He finally gave God credit for all he was and had acquired. (Gen. 31:42)

C-Laban did something he never would have done all the years Jacob served him.  He was forced to make a covenant, a sort of peace treaty with Jacob. (Gen. 31:44-45)

WM-If a foundation of good relationships had been laid and upon it had been built attitudes of brotherly love, compassion and mutual respect, there would have been no need for a pile of rocks to be put between Laban and Jacob as a witness to their mutual distrust of each other.  To think that the only thing that might keep them from harming each other was the “heap of witness” is sad commentary on how badly families can be destroyed.  The last thing to be said is how heartbreaking it is when families reach the point that there is no possibility of reconciliation and forgiveness.  Even Leah and Rachel no longer had a father daughter relationship because of Laban’s actions. (Gen. 31:52)

C-Laban returned to Syria without his daughters or grandchildren. (Gen. 31:55)