Genesis 31:23 Taking his relatives with him, he pursued Jacob for seven days and caught up with him in the hill country of Gilead.
With descriptors like “pursued,” “caught,” “overtook,” and “captives,” the author of Genesis certainly seems to be characterizing this journey as a fleeing, an escape, and a pursuit and capture. This is a chase seen. This isn’t just a friendly trip.
Genesis 31:24 Then God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream at night and said to him, “Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.”
And Laban’s statement, “You’ve deceived me” is rich, being uttered between these two–Jacob who deceived his brother and his father, Laban who deceived Jacob and Rachel. But the thing that keeps running through my mind is, “God used this, too. God used these people, too.” They lied. They cheated. They schemed. Yet God used them for His purpose.
Genesis 31:25 Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead when Laban overtook him, and Laban and his relatives camped there too.
Precious Savior, I am guilty of thinking more than once that I have messed up in a way that means You can no longer use me in Your kingdom work. What I am seeing in Your word again and again is that You can use ALL things, ALL people for Your glory and for our good IF we allow. Thank You. Amen
Genesis 31:26 Then Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done? You’ve deceived me, and you’ve carried off my daughters like captives in war.
Have a blessed day.