17So Jacob got up and put his children and his wives on camels, 18and he drove all his livestock before him, along with all the possessions he had acquired in Paddan-aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land in Canaan.
19Now while Laban was out shearing his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household idols. 20Moreover, Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was running away. 21So he fled with all his possessions, crossed the Euphrates, and headed for the hill country of Gilead.
Jacob rose and made for a quick departure, he was wealthy enough to put his family on camels. Verse 20 is interesting to me because it states, “Jacob deceived Laban”....
Jacob was under the protection of God, He should have put his trust in Him.
“He could have announced his departure and gone in the glory of an army with banners. But fear made it impossible to reap the full measure of blessing. He sneaked away into the will of God instead of departing in triumph.” (Barnhouse)
“Rachel stole her father’s household idols”. Some believe it was to keep her father from inquiring of them, some say maybe she worshiped them, some say they were used for deeds to property but Jewish traditions say it was to keep her father from idolatry. The fact is we just don’t know.
“So he fled with all his possessions, crossed the Euphrates, and headed for the hill country of Gilead.” According to the map it was about a 300 mile journey with his family, possessions and animals. Imagine where you live, packing your whole household on camels and traveling 300 miles away.
But God was with him.
Blessings, David
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