It’s a fascinating scenario. Jacob went to his Uncle Laban with little to his name and over 20 years later he’s married to Rachel and Leah, Laban’s daughters, with lots and lots of children. He is not just richer for the family he’s developed, he has proved himself to be a very savvy worker.
Yet Jacob has tensions with his Uncle and God finally gives Jacob the nudge that it’s time to move on. He endeavours to quietly make that move with his family, yet his Uncle finds out and goes on the chase to find out what’s going on. Among other things Uncle Laban accuses Jacob of taking stuff that should have stayed with him. Jacob is indignant at that and makes a bold claim that if anyone has taken what his Uncle looking for, that person dies. Laban duly goes on the hunt for his idols and while he does so he comes across his daughter Rachel who lies to her Dad by saying she’s on her period preventing Laban from looking any further … in case he happens to come across the very stolen goods that she has stashed away. Laban doesn’t find what he’s looking for. He makes a deal with his nephew and then he moves on.
What’s interesting as I consider this episode is that Jacob leaves out with the intention to reach a destination. He leaves with his family with the desire to return home to his father. He leaves with great riches and significant family. Not everyone makes it to his father’s home. One person in particular doesn’t make it. That person is Rachel. She dies having given birth to another son for Jacob.
Not all those who start the journey live to see the finish. This is something that will be a recurring theme with God’s people. A journey will start, but not everyone sees it to the end. The desire to make it home is built into the heart and we can embarkon that journey, but not everyone makes it home.
In this reading, the a thing take away is the desire for us to be cleaned up on the journey, not just cleaned up for the journey. Ensure that we’re not hiding things that are actively obstacles to a right relationship with the God who sends us on the journey. Be careful to acknowledge the God who calls us on the journey is able and faithful to take us through all the obstacles in front of us as we cooperate with Him to deal wth the obstacles within us.
I don’t want to miss out on the destination. I don’t want you to either. Let’s do what we can, so what God starts we can see God finish in a flourish for His honour, for His glory, for His praise, indeed …
For His Name’s Sake
Shalom
C. L. J. Dryden
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