Fractured Relationships
Opening Prayer
Loving Lord, Your presence is available at all times, dependable in all circumstances and inspiring when I need courage. Thank You.
Read GENESIS 31:1–21
Jacob heard that Laban’s sons were saying, “Jacob has taken everything our father owned and has gained all this wealth from what belonged to our father.” 2 And Jacob noticed that Laban’s attitude toward him was not what it had been.
3 Then the Lord said to Jacob, “Go back to the land of your fathers and to your relatives, and I will be with you.”
4 So Jacob sent word to Rachel and Leah to come out to the fields where his flocks were. 5 He said to them, “I see that your father’s attitude toward me is not what it was before, but the God of my father has been with me. 6 You know that I’ve worked for your father with all my strength, 7 yet your father has cheated me by changing my wages ten times. However, God has not allowed him to harm me. 8 If he said, ‘The speckled ones will be your wages,’ then all the flocks gave birth to speckled young; and if he said, ‘The streaked ones will be your wages,’ then all the flocks bore streaked young. 9 So God has taken away your father’s livestock and has given them to me.
10 “In breeding season I once had a dream in which I looked up and saw that the male goats mating with the flock were streaked, speckled or spotted. 11 The angel of God said to me in the dream, ‘Jacob.’ I answered, ‘Here I am.’ 12 And he said, ‘Look up and see that all the male goats mating with the flock are streaked, speckled or spotted, for I have seen all that Laban has been doing to you. 13 I am the God of Bethel, where you anointed a pillar and where you made a vow to me. Now leave this land at once and go back to your native land.’”
14 Then Rachel and Leah replied, “Do we still have any share in the inheritance of our father’s estate? 15 Does he not regard us as foreigners? Not only has he sold us, but he has used up what was paid for us. 16 Surely all the wealth that God took away from our father belongs to us and our children. So do whatever God has told you.”
17 Then Jacob put his children and his wives on camels, 18 and he drove all his livestock ahead of him, along with all the goods he had accumulated in Paddan Aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan.
19 When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household gods. 20 Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him he was running away. 21 So he fled with all he had, crossed the Euphrates River, and headed for the hill country of Gilead.
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace” (Eph. 4:3). This is to be our goal in our relationships.
Jacob had become extremely wealthy—apparently because of God’s faithfulness rather than his own drive to manipulate situations to his own advantage. However, Laban’s sons were suspicious and Laban himself felt threatened by Jacob’s power. The deteriorating situation led Jacob to decide to make a run for it, taking everything with him, perceiving the dream from God as endorsement. Rachel and Leah are easily persuaded to go too, citing their father’s bad treatment of them as the reason (15). To leave their own family and country was a big decision, yet they were ready to put their trust in God.
Without telling Laban, they left, taking everything with them. We’re not told why Rachel stole her father’s household idols. Maybe she thought they would provide additional protection and blessing in this scary enterprise. Or maybe they strengthened her claim to her inheritance, an act of hard-headed self-interest that was about taking what was no more than her due. Or perhaps she was angry with Laban for his deceitful dealings, including his greedy withholding of their dowry (15). Whatever the reason, her behavior demonstrated the human tendency to want to give God a helping hand, in some way to retain influence or control over the situations in which we find ourselves. Yet evidence of God’s blessing and power to shape their circumstances was right in front of her.
We live in a fallen world. Relationships in families, workplaces, churches and streets—and across national boundaries—are fractured by selfish behavior. The way in which we handle such situations can be a challenge.
Apply
How do we respond when others treat us badly? How long should we put up with it? When we have tried everything, is there a time when we should walk away?
Closing prayer
Dear Heavenly Father, at times my natural response to being hurt or in difficult relationships is to strike back. Infuse me with Your special grace and strength so that I can live worthy of You.
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