This lesson is compatible with the "Jacob" Flash-A-Cards from Abeka Books.  

Scripture References: Genesis 31:22-55

Jacob and his family, along with his many servants packed up and left without telling anyone.  They didn’t even tell Laban, the father of Leah and Rachel, and the grandfather of Jacobs 12 children!  3 days after they left, someone from Laban’s house noticed.  THEY WERE ALL GONE!  “Laban!  Laban!” cried the servant who had discovered Jacob and his family were all missing.  “Laban!  They are all gone!”

“Who is all gone?” asked Laban. 

“Jacob!  Your daughters!  Your grandchildren!” said the servant.  “Everyone is gone!”

“Well, ask Jacob’s servants where they went…” commanded Laban.

“Sir, you don’t understand.  EVERYONE is gone!  Servants, shepherds, maids, cooks…EVERYONE!”

I imagine Laban was furious when he heard that.  “WHAT?!  They just left?  They didn’t say a word to me!  Jacob took by daughters and grandchildren away from me like a kidnapper would take them!  Servant, go gather all my family.  We’ll see how far Jacob gets now!  I’m going after them!”

Laban gathered his men relatives and some servants, I’m sure, and started off on his chase.

He traveled for seven days following the evidence of herds of camels, sheep, donkeys, and other animals.  He finally caught up with them, but he was troubled.  On his journey, he had a dream one night.  It was God.  The God that Jacob talked about.  The one who promised to bless Jacob and protect him.  God said “Laban, be careful how you speak to Jacob.  Don’t speak good or bad to him.  Don’t bless him or curse him.”

So, when Laban got to Jacob, I imagine he had to forget the angry speech he had been planning to give him!  Instead, Laban said “Jacob, why did you steal away secretly?  You took my daughters away like captives.  Why didn’t you tell me you were leaving, so I could send you away with a party?  I could have kissed my daughters and grandchildren goodbye.  Also, my house idols are gone!  I have the right to harm you for taking my family away and stealing my gods.  But because your God spoke to me in a dream, warning me not to harm you, I will not.”

I am sure Jacob was so relieved to hear that God had told Laban not to harm him.  God was faithful, as always, protecting Jacob.  He said “I didn’t tell you I was leaving because I thought you would take your daughters back by force!  But I didn’t take your idols.  You can look anywhere you want, and if you find them, you can punish them with death.  With your family as witnesses, if you find anything of yours in my possession, you can take it.”

Jacob spoke very confidently.  He truly believed that no one had taken the idols.  But what he didn’t know was that his wife, Rachel, had stolen her father’s idols as everyone was packing up to leave.  In those days, the house idols were given to the oldest son as part of his inheritance.  Maybe Rachel was angry that her father had stolen her marriage inheritance, and she was stealing something important to him.  Maybe Rachel wanted to keep worshipping her father’s false gods.  Maybe she took the house idols because she was aftraid of a new life, and wanted something to remember her old life.  We don’t know exactly why she stole the idols, but whatever reason she had, was she right to do it?  No!  Rachel sinned in taking something that wasn’t hers.  She also sinned in keeping idols, something God doesn’t want anyone to have.

Rachel heard that her father was looking for the idols now, and she rushed back to her tent.  She hid the idols in the saddle she used when riding her camel during travel.  The saddle was taken off of the animal and put into the tent whenever they stopped traveling for the day.   Then Rachel sat on the camel saddle in the middle of the room. She must have been waiting there for some time with her heart beating very loudly when her father finally came in her tent.  “Rachel, I’m looking for the idols.  I’m going to look everywhere in your tent, just as I did in Jacob’s, Leah’s, and the maid’s tents.” 

“Ok father.  That’s fine.  But don’t be angry at me for not getting off of my seat.  I am in my time of uncleanness, so you don’t want to come near me.” 

After hearing this, Laban didn’t want to stay too long in Rachel’s tent, because he thought she was sick and that he would get sick, too.  He left without finding the idols.

After Laban searched everywhere and found nothing, Jacob finally spoke to him.

“Father-in-law, what have I done wrong that you chased after me so?  Your family that came with you have been witnesses that I have nothing of yours.  I have served you for 20 years, and I haven’t taken anything from you.  Unless God had spoken to you, you would have hurt me, and taken everything I have.  God has seen my troubles and helped me!”

Laban and Jacob decided it was time to go their own ways, but to do it without hard feelings towards one another.  They decided to make an agreement.  “Let’s all gather some stones and make a pillar as a reminder or this agreement.  We will agree to not pass this pillar to do the other person harm.  God will watch and be our witness that I will not harm your daughters.” 

Then, all the men in the family set a stone on the pillar, and Laban and Jacob made the promise to each other that they wouldn’t hurt one another.  Jacob then made an offering to God in the sight of all of the family.

The next morning, Laban kissed his daughter and grandchildren goodbye and blessed them.  He went home wondering if he would ever see them again.

Next week, we will see what happens to Jacob when he goes back home to his brother, his old enemy.

Now, let’s thank God for always keeping His promise.  He will always watch over us and help us in times of trouble.