Genesis chapter 31: verses 29-30 (NIV)
I have the power to harm you; but last night the God of your father said to me, ‘Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.’ Now you have gone off because you longed to return to your father’s household. But why did you steal my gods?”
It seems that Laban and Jacob maintained an uneasy relationship for twenty years. But God told Jacob to go back to his father. Jacob however did it his own way and fled, presumably anticipating resistance from his father-in-law, and his favourite wife steals her father’s household idols as a parting shot. When Laban catches up with the fleeing family, Jacob lets loose all of his pent-up frustration at his father-in-law. When he has finished, he received this rebuke from Laban.
What can we learn from this rather unsavoury story? Laban did not claim to be a follower of God – he talks to Jacob about the God of his father, and he worshipped idols. Yet he acknowledged who God was and followed God’s instructions. That tells me that no matter who stands in the way of the road God has for me, will not be able to send me in the wrong direction.
Jacob clearly had held on to resentment about the way he’d been treated by Laban, and whilst it’s true he had been treated unfairly, he didn’t set the best example of how to deal with it. God wants us to give such things over to Him and not dwell on such things. Jacob perhaps didn’t set the best example to his wives and children as a follower of God. After all Rachel had no hesitation about stealing the idols and even lying to her father.
Christians are ambassadors of Jesus and we are meant to let his light and character shine through us, no matter how we are treated by others. God can intervene any way that he chooses to bring about His purposes for our lives. So, we need to let go any frustrations and trust Him. His plans will never be thwarted.
Dear Lord,
I’m grateful that You show us through the Bible that those who are seen as pillars of faith are human with the same frailties that we have. But we have the benefit of seeing how You worked things out for them and through them with grace and mercy. Help me to let go of any frustration and hurt that I may experience and allow You to move through me as an ambassador Christ, but also to extend the same mercy to others when I can, just as You have extended Your mercy to me. I ask in Jesus’ Name. Amen.