No Other gods

 DEVOTION

GENESIS

NO OTHER GODS

Gen 31:25-37

25 Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country of Gilead when Laban overtook him, and Laban and his relatives camped there too. 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. 27 Why did you run off secretly and deceive me? Why didn't you tell me, so I could send you away with joy and singing to the music of tambourines and harps? 28 You didn't even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters good-by. You have done a foolish thing. 29 I have the power to harm you; but last night the God of your father said to me, 'Be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad.' 30 Now you have gone off because you longed to return to your father's house. But why did you steal my gods?" 31 Jacob answered Laban, "I was afraid, because I thought you would take your daughters away from me by force. 32 But if you find anyone who has your gods, he shall not live. In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself whether there is anything of yours here with me; and if so, take it." Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the gods. 33 So Laban went into Jacob's tent and into Leah's tent and into the tent of the two maidservants, but he found nothing. After he came out of Leah's tent, he entered Rachel's tent. 34 Now Rachel had taken the household gods and put them inside her camel's saddle and was sitting on them. Laban searched through everything in the tent but found nothing. 35 Rachel said to her father, "Don't be angry, my lord, that I cannot stand up in your presence; I'm having my period." So he searched but could not find the household gods. 36 Jacob was angry and took Laban to task. "What is my crime?" he asked Laban. "What sin have I committed that you hunt me down? 37 Now that you have searched through all my goods, what have you found that belongs to your household? Put it here in front of your relatives and mine, and let them judge between the two of us.

NIV

Although Laban makes it appear he is angry because he was not able to throw a great feast and celebration for Jacob and his daughters and grandchildren were leaving. He did not have the opportunity to kiss them all, which could be a lesson for us, however, the main point is still about his gods because they are missing. Laban accuses someone in Jacob’s household of stealing his gods. Even though Laban told Jacob about his visit and the warning from the God of Jacob’s father, he still said something not good toward Jacob. After searching all the tents Laban did not find his gods, but then Rachel deceived her father. Was it justified ‘payback’ for making her husband work seven years for her? Was she being as fair to her father as he was to her by selling her to Jacob? Was Jacob justified in being indignant because he was accused of being a thief, especially after Laban took so much from him? There was a lot of hostility in this family, another example of dysfunctional relationships. Accusatory and lying, anger, indignation, deception, and more lies. Perhaps that is our lesson in living an upright honest life between each other and before God. However, it could have been true that Laban had genuine love for his daughters and grandchildren and wanted to be able to send them off with hugs and kisses and that is our lesson. But was that just a ruse so to hunt Jacob down over his missing gods? That could once more be a lesson for us regarding searching for gods, those things of this world we place so much value on while hearing the voice of the one true God. Laban’s heart issue was about his household gods, his idols. So then, we ponder once again and ask God to search our hearts and know our hearts and see if there is any offensive way in us, and also ask him to lead us in the way everlasting. Have we created any false gods in our lives? Have we gathered up things we value that keep us from a pure unrestrained worship of the one true God? Sure, our overwhelming love and worship of God, putting him first, seeking first his kingdom and His righteousness does result in His blessing us with the things the pagans run after, but all we have is from the hand of God and we should never see it as our gathered stuff, but His blessings our complete faith and trust in Him. Thank you, Lord, that you know my heart. Thank you, Lord, for your hand of blessing, for your unfailing faithfulness, love, mercy, compassion, and for Jesus. We have no other gods but you, the one true God.