Jacob's brother-in-law began to talk bad about him.
His father-in-law become cross with him. And, God told him to get out of
town. So, after 20 years in Haran, Jacob
headed for home.
I can't say that Jacob was honest with his wives
when he told them that it was time to move on (Genesis 31:6). Of course, it
appears that there was a whole lot of deception coming his way too. Actually,
deception was common across the board in this family.
Be that as it may, Jacob's wives agreed that if God
had said for them to go, then it was time to go. So they stole away secretly
(and Rachel literally stole some of her father's possessions). Three days later
Laban realized that they had gone away, so, he immediately set off in hot
pursuit. Ten days after Jacob escaped from Haran, Laban's band overtook him.
Laban came in fury with a willingness to hurt somebody, but God warned him
against it. Still, he resorted to complaining threateningly about losing his
images and was allowed by Jacob to search the five main tents for them. By
God's mercy and by Rachel's dishonesty, Laban didn't find what he was looking
for.
So, Jacob chewed his uncle out and gave him a sob
story about how hard his two decades in Haran had been. Yet, in the end Jacob
set up a monument of peace and made a covenant of kindness between Laban and
himself. And, after a night of fellowship, Laban left Jacob and his family
alone to go forth in peace.
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