2020.08.08 Hopewell @Home ▫ Genesis 31:17–35

Read Genesis 31:17–35

Questions from the Scripture text: What does Jacob do in Genesis 31:17? What does he carry away (Genesis 31:18)? What point does this verse make multiple times? To whom does he leave to go? To where? What had Laban gone to do (Genesis 31:19)? So, what does Rachel do? What does Jacob do (Genesis 31:20)? How does verse 20 explain saying that Jacob “stole” (same word as with Rachel in Genesis 31:19) away? Toward where did he head (Genesis 31:21)? How many days did it take for Laban to find out (Genesis 31:22)? Whom does he take (Genesis 31:23)? How long does it take him to overtake Jacob? Who comes to Laban in Genesis 31:24? How? What does He say to him? Where does Laban overtake Jacob (Genesis 31:25)? What does he ask Jacob (Genesis 31:26)? To what does he compare Jacob’s escape? What word does he again (cf. Genesis 31:19, Genesis 31:20) use about Jacob’s secret escape in Genesis 31:27? What does he say he would have done for Jacob if he had told him? What else does he say that he wishes he had a chance to do (Genesis 31:28)? What does he say is in his power (Genesis 31:29)? What reason does he give for not doing anything to him? What does he call God? What had God said? What reasoning does Laban give for Jacob’s leaving (Genesis 31:30)? But what question does he now ask? What answer does Jacob give for running secretly (Genesis 31:31)? What does Jacob propose about the stolen gods (Genesis 31:32)? But what did he not know? Whose tents did Laban check first (Genesis 31:33)? Whose did he check last? Into what had Rachel put the gods (Genesis 31:34)? What did she do with the saddle? What did Laban do? What did he not do? What does Rachel say to her father in Genesis 31:35? What does she claim is her reason for not rising? What did he do? What did he not do?

Who is like God?

No one at all. Nothing at all. He alone is worthy of worship, trust-worthy of faith, worthy of total obedience.

Trusting in yourself is ridiculous. You might be out of pocket shearing sheep for a few days (Genesis 31:19a, Genesis 31:22). Or gullible to one of the oldest excuses in the book (Genesis 31:35). Or maybe you’re so dull of heart that after hearing your own husband’s confession of faith in Genesis 31:7-13, and responding “whatever God has said to you, do it,” you still steal the household gods (Genesis 31:19b). Speaking of which…

Trusting in idols is even more ridiculous. They can’t even keep themselves from being stolen. How useless! They can be stuffed into a camel saddle. How tiny!

And they certainly don’t appear in visions to protect their people (Genesis 31:29), or overrule all circumstances and opposition for their people’s good (Genesis 31:36-42).

Job’s are lost. Economies tank. Friends betray. Even the best of earthly kings die. Health vanishes or slowly fades away. The best plans are missing all sorts of information about the present and know nothing of the future. Useless! Tiny!

God alone is our strength and shield. Our help is in the Name of the Lord, Who made the heavens and the earth!

What are you tempted to rely upon instead of the Lord? In what ways has it fallen short in its ability to come through? In what ways has it/they fallen short in their faithfulness or care for you?

Suggested songs: ARP16A “Keep Me, O God” or TPH16A “Preserve Me, O My God”