Hello! Welcome to today’s Bible study on Genesis 31. According to Bible scholars, the events of Genesis 31 took place in 1908 B.C. approximately.
I encourage you to turn to Genesis 31 in your Bible. Kindly invite the Holy Spirit to guide you as you read and study Genesis 31. I mention this in all the Bible Studies because it is only through the Holy Spirit that we get fresh revelation and knowledge to understand the word of God. No one else can teach you better than the Holy Spirit Himself. I am using the New King James Version (NKJV) of the Bible, just in case you want to know.
In the Bible Study on Genesis 30, we read about Jacob’s growing family and wealth. In today’s Bible study on Genesis 31, we will read about Jacob fleeing from Laban along with his wives, sons and belongings.
Backstory: Jacob’s wives and concubines bore him many children. When Jacob asked Laban for his wages, he agreed but later dealt wrongfully with Jacob. However, the hand of God was with Jacob and He prospered him greatly.
Without any further delay, let us study together Genesis Chapter 31, shall we?
Genesis 31 at a glance
01
Genesis 31:1-21
Jacob flees from Laban
Jacob learned that Laban’s sons were envious of his success with the flocks and that Laban’s attitude toward him had changed unfavorably. The Lord told Jacob that it was time to return to his homeland, Canaan.
Jacob explained to Rachel and Leah about Laban’s attitude change and how the Lord had prospered Jacob and God’s instruction to leave. They agreed with him.
Therefore, Jacob decided to leave for Canaan with his wives, children, and the livestock he had acquired. Before departing, Rachel secretly stole her father’s household idols, without anyone’s knowledge, including Jacob’s.
02
Genesis 31:22-35
Laban pursues Jacob
Upon discovering that Jacob had fled, Laban pursued him for seven days but was warned by God, in a dream, to not harm Jacob. When Laban caught up to them, he confronted Jacob about secretly leaving with his daughters and grandchildren without telling him and he further, accused Jacob of stealing his household idols.
Laban claimed that he had the power to harm Jacob, but God had warned him not to say anything good or bad to him. Jacob admitted to being afraid of Laban taking away his daughters by force. He told Laban to search his tents for his missing gods (idols) and kill the person with whom he finds them. However, Jacob was confident that no one in his camp had stolen Laban’s idols.
Rachel hid the idols under the camel saddle to prevent Laban from finding them. Laban searched everywhere, but could not find his idols.
03
Genesis 31:36-42
Jacob rebukes Laban
Jacob was angry with his father-in-law, Laban and rebuked him for pursuing him with hostility. Jacob reminded Laban that in the 20 years that he worked for him, none of Laban’s livestock miscarried or were stolen. Jacob bore the losses himself. He worked 14 years for Laban’s two daughters and 6 years for Laban’s flock. Laban had changed Jacob’s wages 10 times and dealt unfairly with him. Jacob said that if God had not been with him, Laban would have sent him away empty-handed.
04
Genesis 31:43-55
The covenant at Mizpah
Laban allowed Jacob to take his daughters and grandchildren with him since he had no way to care for them.
The two men then made a covenant at Mizpah involving a heap of stones and a pillar called as a ‘witness‘ to signify the boundary between Jacob and Laban’s households and possessions and that neither would cross it to harm the other. The covenant was also to ensure that Jacob did not mistreat or replace Laban’s daughters with other women.
They agreed that if either of them violated the terms while apart, God would judge between them and they invoked God as their judge to uphold the agreement. After offering sacrifices, Laban returned home, while Jacob continued toward Canaan with his family and possessions, as per God’s direction.
Genesis 31: Some Observations
1. Genesis 31:10-13 | Observation
Jacob shared with Rachel and Leah how the Lord had appeared to him in a dream, revealing that he would still prosper despite Laban’s unfair treatment and withholding of his wages. Although Jacob had faced difficulties due to Laban’s actions, God remained faithful to him and blessed him with great increase, just as He had done with Jacob’s father, Isaac, and his grandfather, Abraham.
2. Genesis 31:17-21 | Observation
When the Lord asks you to move, you move. Jacob obeyed the Lord and moved from his uncle and father-in-law Laban’s house, even if it meant trouble. He risked it all to obey God.
In Genesis 31:19, Rachel made a mistake by stealing her father’s household idols. These idols represented rebellion against the Lord, and it was wrong for her to take them, especially since she knew that God was with her husband, Jacob and had blessed him.
3. Genesis 31:32-35 | Observation
Jacob unknowingly pronounced a curse on whoever had stolen Laban’s idols, not realizing that Rachel had taken them and hidden them in the camel’s saddle. When Jacob declared that whoever had the idols would be killed, he was certain that no one from his camp had taken them.
4. Genesis 31:55 | Observation
Laban never saw his daughters, Jacob, or his grandchildren again after he left that place. The Lord made a separation between Jacob and Laban from that day onwards.
Four useful lessons we can learn from Genesis 31
1. God speaks also through dreams and He is faithful
In Jacob’s story, we learn that God communicated with him through his dreams to assure him that He would prosper him in all his ways. As a result, whatever Jacob chose as his wages – speckled and spotted sheep and goat – he received in abundance, until all of Laban’s flocks started producing Jacob’s chosen wages.
Therefore, it is important to pay attention to the messages that God may be conveying to you through your dreams. Seek His confirmation and expect Him to answer.
2. God will give you the wealth of the wicked
God transferred the wealth of Laban to Jacob, and as a result, Jacob prospered tremendously in front of Laban’s eyes. Despite Laban’s attempts to take advantage of Jacob, it did not work because God was with him.
The Bible says that the wealth of the wicked is laid up for the righteous. In the story of Jacob, God transferred the wealth of his father-in-law and uncle Laban to him, even though they were family.
If you have wealthy family members who have taken advantage of you and become rich from your hard work, know that God can bless you and set things right by transferring their wealth to you. This can also happen in a workplace situation. Remember that God sees everything and will transfer the wealth of the wicked to you and He will cause you to prosper greatly from whatever work you do, just like He did with Jacob.
3. God will intervene on your behalf with wicked people and they will be forced to stop
Laban chased Jacob and wanted to harm him, but God intervened and warned Laban in a dream not to say anything good or bad to Jacob. This shows how God protects his people and will intervene when wicked people try to harm them. Even if someone is pursuing you with harmful intentions, trust in God to stop them and keep you safe.
4. Your enemies will even make peace with you and return to where they came from
In the same way that Laban made a peace covenant with Jacob, your enemies will also make peace with you, if you are child of God and if you obey Him.
The Lord will cause your enemies to return to where they came from, permanently, just like Laban.
Conclusion
This concludes the bible study lesson on Genesis 31. I hope you learnt something from this free bible study and found it helpful in your Bible study journey. Feel free to share it with others. Also, share your thoughts about it and what the Holy Spirit has revealed to you about Genesis 31. If you have any questions or comments, please leave them below. I will get back to you as soon as I can.
Until Next Time, God-willing!