Daily Devotions
Genesis
"Remember me, O Lord, with the favour You have toward Your people. Oh, visit me with Your salvation." Psalm 106:4
Text: Genesis 31:1-55
THE FLIGHT TO CANAAN
Jacob must have been glad that there was strong family consensus. The decision had been made unanimously and irrevocably. They had to escape and haste was deemed the wisest choice.
“Then Jacob rose and set his sons and his wives on camels.
And he carried away all his livestock and all his possessions
which he had gained, his acquired livestock which he had gained
in Padan Aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.”
GENESIS 31:17-18
A quick inventory must have been made. Jacob took only that which rightly belonged to him. There were camels, all his possessions and particularly the “acquired livestock which he had gained in Padan Aram”. He certainly did not want Laban to charge him with theft. He did not want to make any allowance for his father-in-law to accuse him of wrongful possession.
NO BETTER TIME
How could Jacob manage such a major move without being noticed? The timing of the move couldn’t have been better.
“Now Laban had gone to shear his sheep,
and Rachel had stolen the household idols
that were her father’s. And Jacob stole away,
unknown to Laban the Syrian, in that he did not tell
him that he intended to flee. So he fled with all he had.
He arose and crossed the river, and headed toward
the mountains of Gilead.”
GENESIS 31:19-21
There were a number of reasons why Jacob could have gone away unnoticed. Three reasons may be highlighted.
1. Sheep-shearing time
Sheep-shearing was one of the busiest periods in the sheep-breeding industry. Work at sheep-shearing time was a morn till dusk challenge. Many hands were needed!
2. No intimation given to Laban
Jacob had managed to keep all his thoughts to himself. No one could have suspected that he would make such a move. He had been there for many years and most assumed that he would stay in Padan Aram for life.
3. God’s hand of protection
The escape from Padan Aram was successful! God’s hand of protection must be acknowledged, for it was He who told Jacob to return to Canaan.