After Rachel gave birth to Joseph, Jacob asked Laban if he and his family could return to his homeland. Laban insisted that they stay, saying that he had learned by divination that his blessings had come as a result of Jacob being there. Jacob felt that Laban’s attitude towards him was different. Also, the Lord told Jacob to go back to his relatives and that He would be with them.
This part is interesting because I have definitely seen this scenario in my own life. I think God sometimes prefaces a shift or move by decreasing the hospitality around us.
Jacob told Rachel and Leah that the Lord had instructed him to go back.
31:16 “Do whatever God has told you,” they said. At the end of the day, these women trusted their husband to hear from the Lord and lead their family.
Perhaps because of her own faith, Rachel stole her father’s household gods before she left. Since Laban had not approved of them leaving, Jacob took his family and left one day without his knowing. Laban found out about it 3 days later and pursued them, catching up with them a week later in Gilead.
24 Then God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”
Laban confronted Jacob, asking why he had run off without even letting him kiss his daughters and grandchildren goodbye. He also asked why Jacob had stolen his gods.
31-32 Jacob answered, “I was afraid, because I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force. But if you find anyone who has your gods, he shall not live.”
Rachel had put the gods in her camel’s saddle and was sitting on them.
35 Rachel said to her father, “Don’t be angry, my lord, that I cannot stand up in your presence; I’m having my period.”
Jacob got angry with Laban’s accusations since he had no idea what Rachel had done, and Laban and Jacob made an agreement to keep peace between them. The next morning, Laban kissed his daughters and grandchildren and went home.
Jacob had been gone for 20 years, but he had originally left to escape Esau’s anger. As he approached his homeland, angels of God met him. Jacob sent messengers to Esau to assure peace, but they returned announcing that Esau and 400 men were coming to see them. In great fear and distress, Jacob divided everything and everyone into 2 groups so that at least 1 group could survive.
Jacob prayed to God, fearful, but remembering what the Lord had said about prospering him. The next day, he selected goats, ewes, rams, camels, cows, bulls, and donkeys to be sent ahead as gifts to Esau. Jacob instructed his servants to go in individual packs with distance between them. He hoped these gifts would make it possible for Esau to receive Jacob.
That night, Jacob sent his wives, children, and possessions across the stream, but he stayed back. A man wrestled with him until daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled the man.
26-28, 30 Then the man said, “Let me go, for it is daybreak.”
But Jacob replied, “I will not let you go unless you bless me.”
The man asked him, “What is your name?”
“Jacob,” he answered.
“Then the man said, “Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.”
So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, “It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.”
Jacob looked up and saw Esau coming, so he divided his children, putting his maidservants and their children first, Leah and her children next, and Rachel and Joseph at the back. Jacob went ahead and bowed to the ground as he approached Esau.
4 But Esau ran to meet Jacob and embraced him; he threw his arms around his neck and kissed him. And they wept.
Esau wanted to accompany Jacob back home, but Jacob insisted that they go more slowly because of the children and young animals. Esau insisted that some of his men accompany Jacob, but Jacob insisted that he would come to him in Seir. Esau agreed and went to Seir, but Jacob went to Succoth where he bought some land for 100 pieces of silver and built a place for himself and his livestock.
Lord, I don’t understand your ways. Thank you for showing that your grace and mercy cover our failings. Your ways are bigger than our sin. If I am prone to judge Jacob for the way he treated his brother and wives, I’m sure I am prone to judge others as well. Forgive me and help me to love and accept all without finding fault or judgement. Help me to follow your ways.
A Walk Through The Bible 