Daily Devotions
Genesis
"Help me, O Lord my God! Oh, save me according to Your mercy." Psalm 109:26
Text: Genesis 31:1-55
LABAN’S SEARCH OF JACOB’S POSSESSIONS
Laban took Jacob at his word. He believed that his idols must be among Jacob’s possessions. Without further ado, he began his search for his family idols.
“And Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent,
and into the two maids’ tents, but he did not find them.”
GENESIS 31:33a
The first attempts had proven fruitless. Nevertheless, Laban continued to search intently for his idols. They must have meant quite a bit to him for the search to be conducted with such relentless intent.
A NEAR MISS
Four tents had already been searched. Each tent held a family’s belongings. But the rigorous search had revealed nothing.
“Then he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent.
Now Rachel had taken the household idols, put them in
the camel’s saddle, and sat on them. And Laban searched
all about the tent but did not find them. And she said to her father,
‘Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise before you,
for the manner of women is with me.’ And he searched but
did not find the household idols.”
GENESIS 31:33b-35
Rachel’s tent was not spared! Laban searched everywhere for his idols! But he found nothing! With her heart in her mouth Rachel offered an excuse that Laban couldn’t but accept. Her excuse was that she was having her menses. Would her father mind if she sat while he searched?
Laban could not have imagined that Rachel would have sat on his idols! That would have been sacrilegious to him! Worse, if Rachel had sat on them if she was having her period! She would have badly profaned the idols by sitting on them while having her menses! He could not imagine his daughter showing such utter disregard for his household idols, and thus he did not ask Rachel to move aside for him to search for his idols. The search in the fifth tent proved futile!
TURNING THE TABLES ON LABAN
Jacob, by this time was angry with Laban! He had failed to prove his allegations. He took advantage of Laban’s confusion and spoke angrily with him.
“Then Jacob was angry and rebuked Laban,
And Jacob answered and said to Laban:
‘What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have so hotly
pursued me? Although you have searched all my things,
what part of your household things have you found?
GENESIS 31:37a