Preface: Jacob has worked for Laban for 20 years and it has become clear to him that his work and his faithfulness are not really valued by his employer. Furthermore, God has told Jacob to take his family back to the land of Canaan. Genesis 31 is all about Jacob moving his family back to the Land of Promise using his tried and (un) true approach of deception and sneakiness. He convinces his wives to leave with him (which does not require much convincing); so they sneak out of Haran, having a 3-day head start. However, Laban, when he sees that Jacob has left with his family, and that his deity figurines are missing as well, chases down Jacob and catches up to him in the hill country of Gilead (which is east of the Jordan River). The end of this chapter is their final confrontation where both men air out their grievances with one another, and then manage to find a way to go their separate ways, establishing a non-aggression pact between them.

There are many chapter commentaries on the book of Genesis. This will be the most extensive examination of Genesis 31, where you will be able to examine in depth every word of the original text. Every attempt has been made to make this both a complete and self-contained study. Therefore, all references, vocabulary, and related concepts should be found within this extensive study. Easy access links to more in-depth studies of some vocabulary words, concepts and doctrines are also provided.

Quotations:

 

On Envy:

 

Socrates on Envy (a graphic); from Pinterest; accessed October 22, 2017.

 

Marilyn Monroe: Success makes so many people hate you. I wish it wasn't that way. It would be wonderful to enjoy success without seeing envy in the eyes of those around you.

 

Gretchen Rubin: Negative emotions like loneliness, envy, and guilt have an important role to play in a happy life; they're big, flashing signs that something needs to change. For the believer, this change would be rebound.

 

Proverb of the Day (a graphic); from Pinterest, accessed October 22, 2017.

 

Buddha: Do not overrate what you have received, nor envy others. He who envies others does not obtain peace of mind.

 

Evander Holyfield: People who make the choice to study, work hard or do whatever they endeavor is to give it the max on themselves to reach to the top level. And you have the people who get envy and jealous, yet are not willing to put that work in, and they want to get the same praise.

 

Robert Kraft: Envy and jealousy are incurable diseases. For the unbeliever.

 

Victor Hugo: The wicked envy and hate; it is their way of admiring.

 

Jeffrey Holland quote (a graphic); from LDSblogs; accessed October 22, 2017. Let me reassure you that this is not an LDS study.

 

Theodore Roosevelt: Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.

 

Shannon L. Alder: Anger, resentment and jealousy doesn't change the heart of others-- it only changes yours.

 

Divine Guidance quotations:

 

Ben Carson Quotation (a graphic); from AZ Quotes; accessed October 22, 2017.

 

Kukis: Our guidance in the Church Age is having the Word of God in our thinking.

 

Psalm 32:8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you. (NIV)

 

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. (NIV)

 

Miscellaneous quotations:

 

Genesis 2:24 This is why a man leaves his father and mother and bonds with his wife, and they become one flesh. (HCSB)

 

Jacobus: How often men reprove in others the very wrong of which they are guilty themselves. Often God punishes sin in kind, allowing the deceiver to be deceived.

 

Carrie Fisher: Resentment is like drinking poison and waiting for the other person to die.

 

F. Scott Fitzgerald: Nothing is as obnoxious as other people's luck.

 

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. (NIV)

Outline of Chapter 31:

Preface

Introduction

         vv.     1–3           Motivating Factors to Direct Jacob Back to Canaan

         vv.     4–16         Jacob Speaks with His Wives/Jacob’s Dream from God

         vv.    17–21         Jacob Surreptitiously Flees Paddan-aram with His Family

         vv.    22–25         Laban Pursues Jacob and Overtakes Him

         vv.    26–35         Laban’s Complaints/Search for Laban’s Household Deities

         vv.    36–42         Jacob’s Response

         vv.    43–54         Laban and Jacob Make a Covenant

         vv.     55           Laban Returns to Paddan-aram

Summary

Addendum

Charts, Graphics and Short Doctrines:

         Preface               Quotations

         Preface               Socrates on Envy (a graphic)

         Preface               Proverb of the Day (a graphic)

         Preface               Jeffrey Holland quote (a graphic)

         Preface               Ben Carson Quotation (a graphic)

         Introduction         Brief, but insightful observations on Genesis 31

         Introduction         Fundamental Questions About Genesis 31

         Introduction         The Prequel of Genesis 31

         Introduction         The Principals of Genesis 31

         Introduction         The Places of Genesis 31

         Introduction         Map of Canaan and Mesopotamia (a graphic)

         Introduction         By the Numbers

         Introduction         The Patriarchal Timeline for Genesis 31

         Introduction         Clarke’s Synopsis of Genesis 31

         Introduction         Outlines of Genesis 31 (Various Commentators)

         Introduction         Brief Descriptions of Genesis 31 (by Various Commentators)

         Introduction         A Synopsis of Genesis 31 from the Summarized Bible

         Introduction         Paragraph Divisions of Modern Translations for Genesis 31 (from Dr. Bob Utley)

         Introduction         The Big Picture (Genesis 29–32)

         Introduction         Jacob and Laban in Genesis 31

         Introduction         Changes—additions and subtractions (for Genesis 31)

         v.       1              “Jacob has taken that which ought to belong to our father” (commentators)

         v.       1              Laban’s wealth went to Jacob, according to his sons (many commentators)

         v.       1              Did Jacob experience spiritual growth in Paddan-aram? (A discussion)

         v.       1              Laban’s Sons Complain (Various Commentators)

         v.       1              Various Commentators on Envy

         v.       2              Laban’s Attitudinal Shift Towards Jacob (Various Commentators)

         v.       2              99% Sign (a graphic)

         v.       2              The Wealth Inequality Movement and Socialism/Communism

         v.       2              A List of Lusts

         v.       2              David Guzik on Envy

         v.       3              God’s guidance to Jacob (commentary/discussion)

         v.       3              God’s Promise, “I will be with you” (Various Commentators)

         v.       3              Genesis 31:3 (a graphic)

         v.       3              What caused Jacob to move?

         v.       3              Jacob’s three-fold reason for leaving Paddan Aram (Thomas Whitelaw)

         v.       3              Ron Snider’s Summary of Genesis 31:1–3

         v.       3              Jack M. Ballinger’s Analysis of Genesis 31:1–3

         v.       4              Jacob calls for wives to speak to him out in the fields (commentators/discussion)

         v.       6              Jacob’s honest and faithful service to Laban (several commentators)

         v.       7              “Laban has changed my wages 10 times” (Various Commentators)

         v.       8              Jacob’s sheep (a photograph)

         v.       8              Laban continually changing their agreement (various commentators)

         v.       8              How exactly was inventory kept?

         v.       9              God oversees blessing to Jacob, despite Laban’s actions (many commentators)

         v.       9              Ron Snider’s Summary of Genesis 31:4–9

         v.      10              God Rescues the Speckled Lambs (Bible Journaling)

         v.      11              The Angel of God (many commentators)

         v.      12              Jacob’s fleshly efforts and God’s divine providence (various commentators)

         v.      13              “I am the God of Bethel” (various commentators)

         v.      13              Does Jacob Have One or Two Dreams from God? (A discussion)

         v.      13              Did Jacob distort these dreams he had to convince his wives? (A discussion)

         v.      13              Convincing his wives to reject their family ties (commentators/discussion)

         v.      13              Ron Snider’s Summary of Genesis 31:10–13

         v.      13              Jack M. Ballinger’s Analysis of Genesis 31:4–13

         v.      14              A Review of Genesis 31:1–13

         v.      14              What God Achieved in Jacob’s Life

         v.      15              “Are we not counted as strangers to him?” (Various commentators)

         v.      15              “He has sold us” (various commentators)

         v.      15              “He has devoured our money” (various commentators)

         v.      15              Laban’s daughters complain about his treatment of them (many commentators)

         v.      16              “The wealth that God has taken away from our father belongs to us and our sons.”

         v.      16              Jacob Tells Rachel and Leah that he wishes to Leave Laban’s Service (a painting)

         v.      16              The Response of Jacob’s Wives (Various Commentators)

         v.      16              The wives accept their husband over their father (various commentators)

         v.      16              You truly don’t appreciate what you have until it’s gone (a graphic)

         v.      16              Ron Snider’s Summary of Genesis 31:14–16

         v.      16              Jack M. Ballinger’s Analysis of Genesis 31:14–16

         v.      18              Canaan and the Palestinian Covenant (from William Wenstrom)

         v.      18              Jacob’s Departure for Canaan (Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary)

         v.      18              Jacob moves from Paddan-Aram back to Canaan (commentators/discussion)

         v.      18              Jacob Leaving the Land of Promise and Then Returning

         v.      18              Jacob Leaves Paddan-Aram (a graphic by Jim Padgett)

         v.      18              Jacob’s Journey to Haran and Back (a map)

         v.      19              Shearing the sheep (various commentators)

         v.      19              Summary of the Doctrine of Teraphim

         v.      19              Descriptions of the teraphim (various commentators)

         v.      19              Teraphim (from Various Commentators)

         v.      19              Why did Rachel steal these small religious statues? (Many Commentators)

         v.      19              Why Rachel stole the teraphim (William Wenstrom)

         v.      19              Why did Rachel steal the teraphim? (Lange)

         v.      19              Why did Rachel steal these small religious statues? (College Press Bible Study)

         v.      20              Jacob stole the heart of Laban (Various Commentators)

         v.      20              Jacob surreptitiously steals away (commentators/discussion)

         v.      21              Jacob Fleeing Laban (a painting by Filippo Lauri)

         v.      21              Jacob’s timing for his escape (commentators)

         v.      21              Which river is found in Genesis 31:21? (Various Commentators)

         v.      21              The name of Gilead (various commentators)

         v.      21              Location of Gilead (various commentators)

         v.      21              Genesis 31:21 (a graphic)

         v.      21              Jacob Leading His Family Away (a graphic)

         v.      21              Ron Snider’s Summary of Genesis 31:17–21

         v.      21              Jack M. Ballinger’s Analysis of Genesis 31:17–21

         v.      22              Laban pursues and overtakes Jacob (commentators/discussion)

         v.      22              Three days’ head start (various commentators)

         v.      23              Is Gilead an Anachronism? The Bible Query

         v.      23              Catching up to Jacob after traveling for 7 days (Various Commentators)

         v.      23              Comparing the mileage to the narrative (various commentators)

         v.      24              Laban the Syrian (from College Press Bible Study)

         v.      24              God’s warning to Laban (Various Commentators)

         v.      24              "Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad." (Wenstrom)

         v.      24              Jack M. Ballinger’s Analysis of Genesis 31:22–24

         v.      25              The relative positions of Jacob and Laban (various commentators)

         v.      25              Map of Israel’s Natural Features

         v.      25              Traveling from Haran to Gilead (from the College Press Bible Study)

         v.      25              Ron Snider’s Summary of Genesis 31:22–25

         v.      26              “You have stolen my heart” (commentators/discussion)

         v.      26              “You have taken away my daughters as if captives by the sword” (commentators)

         v.      26              Laban’s hypocrisy (by William Wenstrom)

         v.      27              “You reap what you sow” (Wenstrom)

         v.      27              Laban suggests that Jacob’s leaving could have been a celebration (commentators)

         v.      27              “Why did you secretly steal away from me?” (William Wenstrom)

         v.      28              “You have acted foolishly” (several commentators)

         v.      29              Understanding power and authority in the ancient world (mechanical translation)

         v.      29              “It is in my power to harm you” (various commentators)

         v.      29              Laban Airs His Complaints to Jacob (a graphic by Jim Padgett)

         v.      29              “Do not speak to Jacob either for good or for bad” (Various Commentators)

         v.      30              Laban’s final charge leveled against Jacob (several commentators)

         v.      30              Laban’s Charges Against Jacob (Various Commentators)

         v.      30              Laban and his gods (commentators/discussion)

         v.      30              Ron Snider’s Summary of Genesis 31:26–30

         v.      30              Jack M. Ballinger’s Analysis of Genesis 31:26–30

         v.      31              Jacob’s fears regarding Laban (commentators/discussion)

         v.      32              Jacob’s response to Laban (several commentators)

         v.      32              Jacob’s Defiant Response to Laban’s Charges (Various Commentators)

         v.      32              Standards of Behavior Agreed to before the Mosaic Law

         v.      32              When Societal Norms Change

         v.      32              What about Jesus’ warning not to judge?

         v.      32              When the most fundamental laws are changed

         v.      32              A Short Review of Genesis 31:26–31

         v.      32              Rachel and the Idols (commentators/discussion)

         v.      32              Rachel and the Idols Part II

         v.      33              Laban Proposes to Search the Tents of His Daughters (a painting)

         v.      33              The sleeping arrangements (commentators/discussion)

         v.      33              Laban Searches the Tents of His Daughters (a graphic by Jim Padgett)

         v.      33              Was Laban willing to execute one of his daughters?

         v.      33              The Husband’s Responsibility in Marriage

         v.      34              The camel’s saddle bag (various commentators)

         v.      34              Rachel Sitting on the Household Gods of Laban by Francesco Fernando (a painting)

         v.      35              “The custom of women is upon me” (various commentators)

         v.      35              Laban searches, but he cannot find the stolen teraphim (several commentators)

         v.      35              Fresco by Giovanni Battista Tiepolo of Rachel sitting on the idols

         v.      35              Rachel and the deity statues

         v.      35              Rachel and the deity statues (William Wenstrom)

         v.      35              Ron Snider’s Summary of Genesis 31:31–35

         v.      36              Jacob’s response to Laban (William Wenstrom)

         v.      36              The anger of Laban and/or Jacob (various commentators)

         v.      36              “What is my actual offense?” Jacob asks (various commentators)

         v.      37              Laban found nothing (various commentators)

         v.      38              Jacob now presents his grievances to Laban (various commentators)

         v.      39              Jacob bore losses that he should have been able to write off (many commentators)

         v.      39              Jacob proclaims himself to be honest and hardworking (various commentators)

         v.      40              Jacob speaks of enduring harsh weather conditions (various commentators)

         v.      40              Weather variables in the middle east (various commentators)

         v.      41              Using iPhone to Record You Overthrowing Capitalism (a photograph)

         v.      42              The Fear of Isaac (many commentators)

         v.      42              Jacob tells why he secretly left (commentators/discussion)

         v.      42              “God settled the matter when He spoke to you” (various commentators)

         v.      42              Jacob is blessed and Laban is cursed (a discussion)

         v.      42              A Summary of Jacob’s Position (Dr. Peter Pett)

         v.      42              Jacob’s Position (Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary)

         v.      42              Individual Spiritual Growth

         v.      42              Ron Snider’s Summary of Genesis 31:36–42

         v.      42              Jack M. Ballinger’s Analysis of Genesis 31:36–42

         v.      43              “All that you see is mine” (Pastor William E. Wenstrom, Jr.)

         v.      43              Laban’s response to Jacob (various commentators)

         v.      44              Laban’s almost poetic discourse (by Whedon)

         v.      44              Laban proposes a covenant (commentators/discussion)

         v.      44              The Substance of the Covenant (Various Commentators)

         v.      45              Raising up the stone pillar (various commentators)

         v.      46              A dual purpose for the stones (various commentators)

         v.      46              Laban and Jacob Stacking Rocks (a graphic by Jim Padgett)

         v.      46              Eating the covenant sacrifices (various commentators)

         v.      46              The heap of stones (various commentators)

         v.      46              The Ceremony of the Covenant (Various Commentators)

         v.      47              Aramaic and Hebrew (Various Commentators)

         v.      47              Galeed (various commentators)

         v.      47              Ron Snider’s Summary of Genesis 31:43–47

         v.      49              Genesis 31:49 (a calligraphy graphic)

         v.      49              Naming the place of the covenant (various commentators)

         v.      49              Mizpah in Galeed (various commentators)

         v.      49              Other information about Mizpah (various commentators)

         v.      49              Some claim this text was added in, misplaced, or whatever (commentators)

         v.      49              Genesis 31:49, Famously Misapplied (a graphic)

         v.      49              “The Reconciliation of Jacob and Laban” by Italian Baroque painter Ciro Ferri

         v.      50              Laban’s concern for his daughters (various commentators)

         v.      50              God stands as a witness between the two parties (various commentators)

         v.      50              Laban’s Covenant with Jacob (Preacher’s Complete Homiletical Commentary)

         v.      51              Who put the pillar in place (commentators/discussion)

         v.      52              Gather Stones—this Pillar is a Witness (Bible Journaling)

         v.      52              Crossing over the pillar of stones (various commentators)

         v.      52              The covenant between Jacob and Laban (commentators/discussion)

         v.      52              Laban’s requirements of Jacob in the covenant (various commentators)

         v.      53a            The plural of to judge (a discussion)

         v.      53a            A possible gloss in the Hebrew Bible

         v.      53a            The Elohim of Abraham and Nahor and Terah (various commentators)

         v.      53a            A truer meaning of the Mizpah farewell (many commentators)

         v.      53a            Terah’s Genealogy

         v.      53b            The Fear of Isaac (various commentators)

         v.      53              Ron Snider’s Summary of Genesis 31:48–53

         v.      54              The Offering of a Sacrifice (various commentators)

         v.      54              Disparate parties eating a meal together (various commentators)

         v.      54              The parties tarried all night (various commentators)

         v.      54              Jack M. Ballinger’s Analysis of Genesis 31:43–54

         v.      55              Laban kisses and blesses his sons and daughters (various commentators)

         v.      55              Laban Hugs and Kisses His Daughters and Grandchildren (a graphic by Jim Padgett)

         v.      55              Laban departs and returns home (several commentators)

         v.      55              A last look at Laban (various commentators)

         v.      55              Competing Interests/Differing Realities

         v.      55              Ron Snider’s Summary of Genesis 31:54–55

         Summary            A Set of Summary Doctrines and Commentary

         Summary            Why Genesis 31 is in the Word of God

         Summary            What We Learn from Genesis 31

         Summary            Jesus Christ in Genesis 31

         Summary            Multiple Authors for Genesis 31 (James Burton Coffman)

         Summary            Adam Clarke closes out Genesis 31

         Summary            Morgan G. Campbell’s Overview of Genesis 31

         Summary            B. H. Carroll Summarizes Genesis 31

         Summary            Edersheim Summarizes Genesis 31

         Addendum          Romans 8:28 in the Life of Jacob

         Addendum          Is there any evidence that Rachel’s stealing the idols turned her around?

         Addendum          Jacob at Haran; or, The disciplinary retributions of life (by W. Roberts)

         Addendum          The Covenant and Other Related Doctrines (from College Press Bible Study)

         Addendum          Jacob’s Age (from the NEV Commentary)

         Addendum          Josephus’ History of this Time Period

         Addendum          A Complete Translation of Genesis 31

         Addendum          Word Cloud from a Reasonably Literal Paraphrase of Genesis 31

         Addendum          Word Cloud from Exegesis of Genesis 31

——————————

An Introduction to Genesis 31

I ntroduction: Genesis 31 begins from Jacob’s point of view. He hears that Laban’s sons believe that Jacob is taking too much of Laban’s stock. He notices that Laban is not looking at him in a good way, anymore—so both Laban and his sons are unhappy about what is happening (all that is happening is, Jacob and Laban have come to an agreement on which sheep and goats are to belong to Jacob, and it appears that Jacob is getting a lot of sheep and goats as a result).

At some point, God has come to Jacob in a dream and told him to return to Canaan.

So Jacob calls his wives to come out into the field to discuss their options. This is probably the only time Jacob has ever done this; and they probably have no idea why he is calling them out to the field.

Jacob lays everything out very objectively. He does not appear to exaggerate his situation. They are, as a family unit, prospering; and this appears to upset the brothers and father of Jacob’s wives. Laban and his sons believe that everything that Jacob gains is their loss.

Jacob presents himself to his wives as working hard. These women would have been aware, during the first 14 years, how Jacob had prospered their father—no doubt they would have heard that from time to time (and, if you will recall, Laban admitted at one time that God prospered him through Jacob). Whatever Jacob’s wives know about his business (and it is probably quite a lot), it is squaring with what Jacob is saying. He is presenting to his wives an honest assessment of their situation.

They know about Laban’s agreement with Jacob (they no doubt know that their father has changed this agreement on Jacob on many occasions), and they know that their flocks are on the increase, despite how Laban changes the agreement. So when Jacob describes this, it fits with their reality. And Jacob, no doubt, has on previous occasions credited God with the increase in their herd. This takes us to the end of v. 9.

Then Chapter 31 goes in an interesting direction. So far, when God has revealed himself to any Old Testament saint through a dream or a vision, we are told the story as though it is happening right at that moment (even if the writer is recounting it from years ago). However, here, God has spoken to Jacob, yet Jacob does not record but the barest bones information about the revelation (in v. 3). In fact, he records more of the revelation in the telling of it to his wives.

Let me suggest four possibilities: (1) Jacob did not act on God’s guidance immediately; so he had the dream, and kind of set it aside; but when Jacob realized that Laban no longer favored him, that got him to thinking. (2) This does allow for the possibility that Jacob makes this dream up in order to cause his wives to leave Laban and their homeland; however, the entire dream, as presented, seems to ring true. (3) Jacob has a second dream, where God tells him again, “Leave.” This would assume that Jacob sort of forget about his first dream and God having to return to him and say, “I really mean it this time.” That simply does not sound right to me either. It is more likely that Jacob remembered the dream, but did not act upon it immediately. (4) The dream and Jacob’s telling of the dream are close in time. He dreams the dream and the next day he tells his wives about it. This seems possible, but we must bear in mind that Jacob’s motivation appears to be more about Laban’s treatment of him as opposed to God’s directive in this chapter. This is a lot to throw out there, prior to studying the chapter itself, but it will give somewhat of a warning of what is coming.

I should also point out, that the way this plays out, it seems to me that #1 explains it—Jacob had the dream and apparently kept it to himself, despite the fact that God told him to move out. This understanding allows all the pieces of the puzzle to all fall together. What did not happen was, God told Jacob to go, and so he made preparations to go.

When Jacob leaves Haran, taking his wives and children with him, it is not under the best of circumstances. Laban and his sons are all turned against Jacob, so when Jacob surreptitiously leaves, Laban finds out and pursues him. While in hot pursuit, God speaks to Laban, to the intent, apparently, of calming him down prior to his catching up with Jacob.

Jacob also inadvertently has some teraphim (household deities) with him which were stolen from Laban (Rachel stole them). The explanation concerning Laban's frantic behavior concerning these deities is found in the isagogics.

The interaction between Jacob and Laban is fascinating. Both men know what is the right and fair thing to do. Both men expect this from of the other but they will not act accordingly. In you business dealings and in your personal relationships, you cannot expect others to behave as they ought. I have been in a great many business deals that, when money becomes a part of the dispute, hard feelings and difficulties can result. I have made an attempt in every business interaction to try to place myself in the shoes of the other person, attempting the best I could to see it from their point of view. Certainly, many times, the motivation is simply money and ego; but that is not always the case.

Some of what we are viewing is a contrast between Jacob and Laban, who are certainly men cut from the same cloth.

The only volition that you have control of is your own. You can do nothing but to do what is right according to the Holy Scriptures delivered to you. Beyond that, you depend upon God to deal with those who do not deal morally or ethically with you. This is not a sanction to be naive. God had mandated that we, as sheep send out among the wolves, be as wise as serpents and harmless as doves (Matt. 10:16b).

Application: Just in case I am being unclear, you will be cheated in a business transaction. Someone will lie to you when there is a lot of money on the line. This is pretty much guaranteed to happen. Do you let your life for the next 1, 2 or 5 years be guided by this? Very often, the correct response is to do nothing. Very often, you are better off not seeking justice, not getting revenge, not giving them a taste of their own medicine. This does not mean that you eschew all business dealings with other people because you might get burned. Before signing anything, you just need to make sure of what you are doing; and you have to bear in mind, you might be cheated, even after doing due diligence.

The study of Laban and Jacob is fascinating because both men have a reasonable point of view. We have come to find with Jacob, he sometimes gets himself into some difficult situations and, more often than not, it is his fault.

Abraham and Isaac received promises for the future, but without fulfillment (both men fathered a son of promise). Jacob will begin to see the beginnings of God fulfilling His promises to him.

The study of Jacob is quite extensive in the Bible, and many of us can relate to him more than we can relate to Abraham. Abraham makes a lot of good choices; Jacob does not. Abraham seems to focus on the guidance of God and upon his family; Jacob seems to always be searching for that angle which he can work.

Despite Jacob failures and bad choices, God is every bit as much in his life as God was in the life of Abraham. God’s will is just as manifest in the life of Jacob as it was in Abraham’s life—perhaps even more so, because so often, Jacob seems to be at odds with God’s plan. So often it seems that God’s will would move Jacob to the right; but then Jacob would say, “I have given this a lot of thought, and I think it is better for me if I go left.” It is almost as if Jacob appears to be in a perpetual wrestling match with God.

Let’s take this chapter as an example. It will be time for Jacob to pack up his family and leave Paddan-aram and move back to Canaan. God will tell him to do so. However, in this chapter, it will appear as though God telling Jacob to return to Canaan is only one of many things which move Jacob in that direction. God’s will does not ever appear to be enough to guide Jacob—not here in this chapter or at any time.

Nevertheless, even when Jacob is not completely cooperative, God’s plan moves ahead. (This statement may properly describe most of Jacob’s life.)

Dr. Robert Dean: What we discover through this whole process is that God is the one who is covertly guiding and directing the affairs in Jacob's life. God is the one who is disciplining Jacob who is working in his spiritual life, bringing him to spiritual maturity. God is the one who is blessing Jacob not because of anything Jacob does. In fact Jacob is making a lot of bad decisions. Nevertheless God blesses him not because of who and what he is but because of the Abrahamic Covenant. God has a broader sovereign purpose that He is bringing about through the lineage of Abraham, Isaac and now Jacob as He is building the Jewish people. That takes precedence over the flaws and failures in the lives of the individual believers like Isaac or Jacob or even Abraham earlier.

Do you remember all of that mess when Jacob pretended to be Esau in order to receive the end-of-life blessing from his nearly blind father? Esau found out and wanted to kill Jacob. Then Rebekah, whose plan this was, arranges for her son Jacob to leave Canaan. See Genesis 27 (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). We would be hard pressed in that and the next chapter to find a single person doing the right thing—apart from Isaac’s blessing of Jacob in Genesis 28 (HTML) (PDF) (WPD). And yet, God’s will is done. Jacob needed to leave the country and find his wife (actually, wives) in the east; and he does that.

Dr. Robert Dean expresses very similar thoughts: The emphasis here is that no matter how many flaws and failures there are, and Jacob certainly made a lot of mistakes and failed in a lot of ways, God is always true to His promise. That is one of the key themes throughout this whole section of Genesis. We see all the failures, the flaws, the sin nature trends of all the patriarchs. These are not always wonderful people. Yet we see that God is faithful to His promise and He uses fallen, flawed sinners to accomplish His plans and purposes in history. So this is tremendous encouragement for all of us. Ultimately the emphasis is on God's faithfulness, that no matter what transpires, no matter what failures there might be in the circumstances, He is still faithful to His Word. He has been faithful to Jacob. Jacob has left the land as a result of God's direction and while he is out of the land God has promised to prosper and bless him, and that is indeed what happened while he was out of the land.

Map of Canaan and Mesopotamia (a graphic); from My Bible; accessed October 21, 2017.

The Patriarchal Timeline for Genesis 31