Laban catches up to Jacob and accuses him of stealing his idols. Jacob, unaware of Rachel’s actions, denies it. A search of Jacob’s possessions does not reveal the stolen idols, as Rachel hides them. Jacob then rebukes Laban for his years of unfair treatment. The God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the Fear of Isaac are all names for God. At the time of the Old Testament, when a woman had her monthly blood loss, she was unclean. And anything that she sat on became unclean.

It reads in Genesis 31: 25-42 Easy: Jacob had put up his tent in the hill country of Gilead. That is where Laban found him. So, Laban and his relatives also put up their tents in that place.  Laban said to Jacob, ‘Why did you do that? You have deceived me. You have taken my daughters away as if you had caught them in a war.  Why did you go away secretly? Yes, you have deceived me. You should have told me that you were leaving. Then I would have prepared a big meal. We would have been happy together, with songs and music.  But you did not even let me say “goodbye” to my daughters or my grandchildren. What you have done is not right.  I have the power to hurt you. But last night the God of your father appeared to me. He told me, “Be careful what you say to Jacob. Do not say anything good or bad against him.”  I know that you want very much to return to your father’s house. That is why you have left my home. But why did you take my idols?’ Jacob replied, ‘I left secretly because I was afraid. I thought that you might fight me to take your daughters away from me.  But if you find your idols with anyone here, that person must die. While our relatives watch, you may look for anything that belongs to you. If you find anything then take it.’ Jacob did not know that Rachel had taken her father’s idols. So Laban went into Jacob’s tent. Then he went into Leah’s tent. He also went into the female servants’ tent. But he did not find the idols. When he left Leah’s tent, he went into Rachel’s tent.  Rachel had taken the idols, and she had put them inside her camel’s seat. Now she was sitting on them. Laban looked everywhere in Rachel’s tent, but he did not find the idols. Rachel said to him, ‘Do not be angry with me, sir. I cannot stand up in front of you. It is the time of my monthly blood loss.’ So Laban looked everywhere for the idols, but he did not find them. Then Jacob became angry, and he quarreled with Laban. He asked Laban, ‘What have I done wrong? What sin have I done against you so that you had to catch me?  Now you have looked through everything that I have. Did you find anything that belongs to you? If you have found anything, put it here. Then your relatives and my relatives can see it. Our relatives can decide which of us is right, you or me!’ Jacob continued to say to Laban, ‘I have worked for you for 20 years. Your female sheep and goats have all safely given birth to young ones. I have not taken any of your male animals as food for myself.  If wild animals attacked your sheep or goats, I did not show them to you. I paid you for them. If any animal was lost, in the day or at night, you said that I must pay you for it. This is what it was like to work for you: I worked in the strong heat of the sun in the day. I had pain from the cold at night. I could not always sleep. It was like this for 20 years as I worked like a slave for you. I worked for 14 years to pay you for your two daughters. Then I worked for six years for your sheep and goats. You changed what you paid me at least ten times! The God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac was with me. If he had not helped me, then you would have sent me away with nothing. But God has seen what you have done to hurt me. He has seen how hard I have worked for you. So last night he told you that you had done wrong.’

Father God, I thank You and praise you for Your Justice and Trust in Faithfulness of Your children. Thank You and Praise You so much for being our defender when we face opposition and injustice. Just as Jacob stood firm in the truth, help us to remain steadfast and trust that You see all things and make all things right. When others falsely accuse or mistreat us, remind us that You are our ultimate judge, and Your justice never fails. Give us wisdom in difficult situations, guiding our words and actions with grace. Strengthen our hearts so we do not grow weary but instead continue walking in obedience. May Your presence be our refuge and may Your truth be our anchor in uncertain times. I thank You and praise You for Your unfailing love, for seeing us, defending us, and leading us in righteousness for Your name’s sake. We surrender our tears, fears and frustrations to You and choose to trust in Your perfect plan. I love You, thank You, praise You and give You all the honor and glory in Jesus Precious Name Amen.