Title: Finding the Teraphim (Genesis 31:17-42)
Contents
Genesis Exposition 60
Finding the Teraphim (Genesis 31:17-42)
Jacob, who had been a slave at Laban's house, in consultation with his wives, decided to leave Laban's house and go home. We put that decision into action in today's text. He took the whole family and the flocks he had acquired and left. However, he secretly left without Laban's permission. There, Rachel stole her father's teraphim and brought it out. When Jacob and his party reached Mount Gilead in three days, Laban knew about this and pursued them.
After seven days, Laban meets Jacob and the others. Laban rebukes him for leaving without saying hello and tells him to release the teraphim. Of the teraphim, only Rachel knew, so Jacob said that if the teraphim came out, the man would die. Of course, Rachel escapes the crisis by hiding in the saddle. When Laban does not find Teraphim, Jacob is elated and recalls the past, talking about conscientiously herding cattle while he was staying at Laban's house. He says that he was blessed purely because of God's care.
Today's verse depicts the breathtaking pursuit and conflict between Laban and Jacob, who Rachel stole and chased after the teraphim. Let's examine what God's message is hidden in these words and share grace.
run away and chase
It's really sad. It is sad to run away at night in the house of my maternal uncle Laban, whom I have been with for 20 years. Wealth created this relationship between Laban and Jacob. Jacob fled with his family and belongings while Laban went to shear his sheep, so as not to lose his possessions. (20) “Jacob did not tell Laban the Syrian where he was going, but went away quietly.”
It was because the shearing was a festival that allowed so many families and possessions to move between sheep shearing. It took several days to invite friends to eat and drink, and Jacob escaped. Jacob's act of seizing an opportunity with the intention of not losing his fortune is nimble. How good would it be to have such a person in God's work?
However, Laban later hears of this and pursues him. On the 19th day after Jacob fled, the two meet on Mount Gilead. It is 480 km from Paddan-aram, the home of Laban, where Jacob left. It's a fast and relentless pursuit. I chased him for 7 days. Due to Laban's pursuit, Jacob faces the risk of losing his family after 20 years of hardship.
Here we have to think. If God had not intervened here, Jacob's 20 years would have been in vain. You can see how weak humans are. Fortunately, God intervenes. (Verse 24) “God appeared in a dream to Laban the Syrian by night, saying, ‘Be careful not to speak to Jacob for good or evil.’” Hallelujah! "Do not speak for good or evil" means not to trouble Jacob with abusive language or violent actions.
It is a situation that can harm Jacob to Laban, who has been running non-stop for 7 days in anger. Jacob was on the brink of ruin in his wrath. But at this time, God appears for Jacob in crisis. The words of (Psalm 46:1) come true. “God is our refuge and strength, a great help in trouble.” God is with the saints. No matter what kind of danger we face, our members must trust in God who is always with us and go forward boldly.
After 7 days of pursuit, Laban meets Jacob and rebukes him for being foolish for running away without a greeting. This happened because he was conscious of the Word of God. And it is said that the reason he followed was because he stole the teraphim. (Verse 30) "Now it is forbidden that you are longing for your father's house and want to return, but how have you robbed my spirit?" The reason Laban pursued Jacob was a matter of property, not of religion. However, he blurs his tail like this because he has been instructed by God.
Laban, who should have come out rough because God was with Jacob, who was in crisis, came out quietly. Here, we need to think about the human relationships we form in our social life. It's not just a human-to-human relationship. God is also at the center of human relationships. A person of faith who acknowledges this can win even in social life. I hope that you too will be victorious in human relationships with God.
meaning of teraphim
Teraphim was a kind of idol in the patriarchal era. It was considered as a guardian deity of the family. Made of wood or silver. It was also used for divination. However, Rachel stole this teraphim and brought it out for financial rather than religious reasons. A teraphim is not only an idol, but also a token of inheritance. Rachel was greedy for her father's property and stole the teraphim.
It is for the same reason that Laban did not hesitate to come to find Teraphim. So, in the promise between Laban and Jacob below (verse 43), a covenant is made so that the problem of property inheritance does not occur with each other. Laban calls Teraphim a god (verse 30). Laban originally knew the Lord. However, he calls Teraphim his god, and the God of Jacob "the God of your father" (29). Here we can see why God forsook Laban and helped Jacob.
Laban chased after Jacob for riches, but he says that if he finds his god, Teraphim, he will go. But in the end he doesn't even find the teraphim. God caused Laban to fail completely. Jacob, who is with God, and Laban, who does not know God, are in stark contrast to each other. Laban does not find Teraphim even in Leah and her two maidservants, and later Rachel. It was because Rachel showed the quickness to overcome the crisis. Consequently, the providence of God is in it.
Jacob even tells him to kill anyone who has teraphim wherever he finds him (verse 32). This is a very dangerous moment. It came from not knowing that Rachel had it. Still, here we have to realize how dangerous it is to go too extreme. How was Rachel's heart at this time? This is Jacob's pride. Although it is not up to man whether he lives or dies, Jacob speaks as if so. It is better for believers not to choose such pride. But God protects even this Jacob. It was purely by God's grace that Laban did not find the teraphim in Rachel.
The exalted Jacob says that he was an innocent and faithful shepherd when he was a slave in Laban's house (verses 36-40). He also mentions that only God has blessed him (verses 41-42). In any case, it must be acknowledged that he was sincere. Believers must be sincere and diligent. God's blessings rest upon it.
Dear saints,
Today's sermon is not short, but the message it contains is not complicated. It refers to the formation of complex human relationships made by wealth. Believers need a good view of wealth. You don't want to be ruined by wealth. Laban, Rachel, and Jacob all look broken because of their wealth. The purpose of the fugitives, the pursuers, and those who stole the teraphim was riches.
Let's live without forgetting the words of (1 Timothy 6:10). “The love of money is the root of all evil, and those who long for it have been deceived, and have erred from the faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.” The three relationships for believers must be clear and clear. They are interpersonal, interpersonal, and object relations. Unfortunately, today, one object relationship is skewed, and the other two relationships are often wrong. Obviously, looking at that point, it seems that we are a materialistic society. Dear saints, I hope it is not so. Hallelujah!