In-Laws and Outlaws

Song: Mended And Whole

Scripture: Genesis 31:1-55

Meet the prodigal family.

There was plenty of sin to go around. Laban had cheated Jacob. Laban’s sons were unjustly jealous of Jacob. But, Jacob’s flight did look suspicious. Rachel’s theft of the idols wasplainly wrong. Jacob’s oath to slay the thief and his rebuke of Laban’s charges were both rash and impudent.

There was plenty of blame to be shared. The Lord made the punishments fit the crimes. For Laban’s part, the Lord reversed his every scheme to cheat Jacob, and instead enriched Jacob. At the same time, Laban’s deceptions humbled Jacob and taught him mercy, patience, and faith. Laban’s gods had been ineffective in protecting Laban, and would soon prove a stumbling block to Rachel’s house. Perhaps even Jacob’s rash oath was executed in Rachel’s untimely death. She that used “the manner of women” to hide her crime died giving birth after “the manner of women.”

There was plenty of providence to be considered. It is a marvel how the Lord uses the selfish choices and sinful ambitions of men to teach them the lessons they require. Everyone on this occasion seemed to justify himself, to be convinced of the justice of his cause. Maybe in time they would see how the Lord had used them all for their own good. Lord, help us to see what they didn’t.

Jason Moore