Treaty
Opening Prayer
“Spirit of the living God, fall afresh on me. Melt me, mold me, fill me, use me” (Daniel Iverson, 1890–1977).
Read Genesis 31:43–55
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
[43] Laban answered Jacob, “The women are my daughters, the children are my children, and the flocks are my flocks. All you see is mine. Yet what can I do today about these daughters of mine, or about the children they have borne? [44] Come now, let’s make a covenant, you and I, and let it serve as a witness between us.” [45] So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. [46] He said to his relatives, “Gather some stones.” So they took stones and piled them in a heap, and they ate there by the heap. [47] Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, and Jacob called it Galeed. [48] Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me today.” That is why it was called Galeed. [49] It was also called Mizpah, because he said, “May the LORD keep watch between you and me when we are away from each other. [50] If you mistreat my daughters or if you take any wives besides my daughters, even though no one is with us, remember that God is a witness between you and me.” [51] Laban also said to Jacob, “Here is this heap, and here is this pillar I have set up between you and me. [52] This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not go past this heap to your side to harm you and that you will not go past this heap and pillar to my side to harm me. [53] May the God of Abraham and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge between us.” So Jacob took an oath in the name of the Fear of his father Isaac. [54] He offered a sacrifice there in the hill country and invited his relatives to a meal. After they had eaten, they spent the night there. [55] Early the next morning Laban kissed his grandchildren and his daughters and blessed them. Then he left and returned home. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What does God’s covenant with us mean to you?The Old Testament is full of covenants made between different parties. This covenant between Laban and Jacob is all about a lack of trust. It’s a far cry from the ultimate New Testament covenant, made through the blood of Jesus. The covenant between Jacob and Laban kept their clans separate. They were not to go past the pillars of rocks that they had built. The ultimate covenant was to bring different factions and people groups together—Jews and Gentiles, slaves and free, men and women (Gal. 3:28).The covenant between Jacob and Laban was made out of fear. Despite the dream, Laban might still want to take back what Jacob had earned while in his company. In turn, Jacob might choose to take revenge for Laban’s deception. Yet the ultimate covenant was not one of fear but one of love (John 15:13).The covenant between Jacob and Laban was made to last a lifetime, but the ultimate covenant is eternal. Whereas Jacob and Laban’s covenant was about keeping the peace temporarily within one family, the ultimate covenant is about the offer of eternal peace between God and all humanity.
Apply
How might God’s ultimate covenant challenge how we behave in some of our relationships?
Closing prayer
Father, show me ways that I can share Your covenant relationship with those around me.
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