Genesis 30-31
Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah; so God gave Leah sons, but Rachel had no son. These years were sad years for Jacob; he had no altar; he lived with Laban who bowed down to idols; his wife Rachel loved the idols. When they left Laban, Rachel stole her father’s idols. When a man leaves God, his heart is without peace. But God is full of grace; He never left Jacob. Poor Jacob had no altar; had he forgotten God? But God never forgot him. Jacob thought out tricks to deceive Laban, and Laban did the same. But God remembered His promise to Jacob, so He gave him ten sons, and also a son, Joseph, by Rachel. God gave him many servants, maids, cattle, camels and asses. After twenty years Jacob was rich.
Jacob may be a lesson to every believer—a picture of a man who has faith yet forgets God, a Christian who chooses a place of his own, as Jacob left Canaan for Padan-aram, and lost his altar. Our home is heaven, but some Christians when in the world forget heaven. I have a friend, who when asked his country says, “My honorable country is heaven”—not my poor country—he values heaven. True, we forget, yet God never forgets us. “God is faithful.” Laban saw that Jacob had very much cattle: he wished they were his, and he did not treat Jacob as before. Laban’s sons said, “Jacob hath taken away all that was our father’s.”
Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred, and I will be with thee.” So, while Laban was gone to shear sheep, he set his sons and his wives upon camels, and took all his servants and cattle and left quietly. On the third day it was told Laban that Jacob had run away. Laban and his brethren went after Jacob, and in seven days found him at Mount Gilead. But God in a dream warned Laban not to hurt Jacob. Laban asked Jacob why he had run away, and not allowed him to kiss his sons and daughters: he also asked, “Why hast thou stolen my gods?” Jacob told Laban he was afraid of him; and also “with whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live.” So Laban searched in all Jacob’s tents, but could not find the gods, for Rachel had hidden them. These were not living gods. Yet Rachel worshipped these idols—images of gold or silver, instead of the ever-living God who took care of her husband and blessed them! He is the only true, almighty, eternal God.
Jacob was angry and told Laban how hard he had worked for him. Afterward, they set up a stone for a pillar, and both promised not to pass over this stone to hurt each other. Then Jacob offered a sacrifice, and called his brethren to eat with him, and they stayed all night in the mountain. The next morning Laban arose early and kissed his grandchildren and his daughters, and blessed them, and went back to his home.