Have you ever blamed someone for misplacing your keys? If not, have you ever accused someone in your household of throwing out one of your prized possessions only to find it where you moved it moments later? You don’t have to be old to experience a senior moment of forgetfulness. I once received a new security badge for work only to find the one I put on earlier in the day under my hoodie that was still on me. Embarrassing moments like this set the tone for who is fooling who?
Why did you flee secretly and cheat me and did not tell me, so that I might have sent you away with joy and gladness and with singing, with tambourine and lyre? 28 And why did you not permit me to kiss my sons [grandchildren] and my daughters good-bye? Now you have done foolishly [in behaving like this]. 29 It is in my power to do you harm; but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, Be careful that you do not speak from good to bad to Jacob [peaceably, then violently]. 30 And now you felt you must go because you were homesick for your father’s house, but why did you steal my [household] [c]gods? – Genesis 31:27-30
Today’s featured passage contains a whodunit. Since Jacob was often out in the field tending to Laban’s livestock, it wasn’t unusual to not see Jacob for a day or two. However, when Laban realized that images of his household gods were missing, he jumped to the conclusion that Jacob must have stolen these gods and taken off for good. Since Moses kind of describes Laban as a modern-day narcissist, Laban pre-conceived notion makes sense.
Then Jacob became angry and reproached and argued with Laban. And Jacob said to Laban, What is my fault? What is my sin, that you so hotly pursued me? 37 Although you have searched and felt through all my household possessions, what have you found of all your household goods? Put it here before my brethren and yours, that they may judge and decide between us. 38 These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your she-goats have not lost their young, and the rams of your flock have not been eaten by me. 39 I did not bring you [the carcasses of the animals] torn by wild beasts; I bore the loss of it; you required of me [to make good] all that was stolen, whether it occurred by day or by night, Genesis 31:36-39.
Moses’ description of Laban’s search party to find his missing gods is more like a calvary. When Laban’s group overtakes Jacob’s family caravan, he skips any small talk and goes right to the heart of the matter. Following Laban’s comprehensive search, no stolen items are located. Subsequently, as Jacob rolls his eyes, frustration brews over resulting in an exchange like, “who’s fooling who?” From Jacob’s perspective, Laban is the thief who switched his wages ten times, receiving less and less money. In view of this tense conversation, remember that you reap what you sow, Galatians 6:7-8.
by Jay Mankus
ExpressYourself4Him 