Genesis 31:22-55. No sooner did Laban learn of Jacob’s flight than he pursued him, but God confronted him in a dream, warning him to be careful what he said to Jacob. Laban took the supposed high ground in the heated discussion, telling Jacob he would have given him a good send-off if he had only known when he was leaving. He also accused Jacob of stealing the household gods. Jacob was incensed at the charge, but Rachel continued the family pattern of deception by hiding them from her father, and getting away with it.
Jacob presented the reality of his integrity to Laban, bringing up the following points about his character and treatment of Laban: (1) He had taken good care of Laban’s flocks. (2) He had born the loss when wild animals killed any animals in the flock. (3) Laban had also demanded payment from Jacob for anything that had been stolen by thieves. (4) Jacob had worked tirelessly under difficult circumstances for 20 years. (5) Laban had constantly changed the amount he had paid Jacob. (6) Jacob realized that everything he possessed was actually from God and that he had received nothing of any value from Laban.
In spite of this litany of Jacob’s integrity (amazing to think how Jacob had changed, by God’s grace from a man of deceit to a man of integrity!), Laban refused to acknowledge the truth of anything Jacob said. Instead, he proposed a covenant to protect himself from Jacob! This covenant marked the end of the dealings between these two family groups.
It’s a bit amusing to think of how Christian people have liked the idea of “Mizpah: may the Lord keep watch between you and me while we are absent one from the other” presumably without knowing the story behind this saying! Essentially, this was a promise that the two families would not go beyond the borders of the heap of stones at Mizpah to harm each other—it indicated nothing of warm family feeling! Fortunately, the story does end with the two families sitting down for a meal together and a restful night, but that was the end of their story together.
Jacob had learned some important things about the sovereignty of God during his twenty years with Uncle Laban. He had learned that God is our Protector and the determiner of our life span: Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall the the ground apart from the will of your Father. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. (Mt. 10:29-30) He learned that threats of enemies are under God’s control: The Lord foils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the peoples. But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations. (Ps. 33:10-11) He learned that people cannot harm ultimately harm us: The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? (Ps. 118: 6)
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