Laban went first into Jacob’s tent to search there, then into Leah’s, and then the tents of the two servant wives — but he found nothing. Finally, he went into Rachel’s tent. But Rachel had taken the household idols and hidden them in her camel saddle, and now she was sitting on them. When Laban had thoroughly searched her tent without finding them, she said to her father, “Please, sir, forgive me if I don’t get up for you. I’m having my monthly period.” So Laban continued his search, but he could not find the household idols.
Genesis 31:33-35 NLT
The life of the Patriarch, Jacob, can easily be an Emmy award winning series. His life is a long drama of deception, betrayal, rejection, repentance and forgiveness. The plot in Genesis 31 is a classic.
Jacob having deceived his Uncle, Laban, who had cheated him for years is on the run like a fugitive. Laban is determined to harm him for making away with his daughters, grandchildren, animals…and his household gods.
God is on Jacob’s side and the night before Laban will overrun Jacob and his household, the Almighty warns Laban to be careful about his dealings with the son of covenant.
Something else is going on: there are more than two deceptive characters in this narrative. There is Jacob. There is Laban and, there is Rachel.
Rachel, the second wife of Jacob, has stolen her father’s gods. Idols she picked from her old life in Paddan Arram.
When God instructed Jacob to go back the land of his fathers, God desired that Jacob and his whole family will return to the exclusive worship of Yahweh. God’s intention was clearly unveiled as he instructed Jacob to build altars of worship and remembrance.
As warned by God, Laban is careful to not say anything to his son-in-law, neither good nor bad, but, he must collect back his stolen gods. Jacob has met the true God, so he is not interested in nameless, deaf and dumb idols. He allows Laban to search the tents of he and his household for his missing household idols.
Laban with his search warrant begins to ransack the tent of Jacob, then Leah, then the two maidservants. He is unsuccessful. The last tent to search is Rachel’s. The quiet, goodly and graceful second daughter. Again, he is unsuccessful. His attempt fails yet again not because Rachel is innocent but because she is sitting on the idols of her past life.
Rachel is a curious woman. She is a paradox. Graceful and yet cunning. Goodly and yet full of guile. Quiet and yet troublesome.
It is true that there are many who like Rachel are paradox. Their public life is antithetical to their private life. What they say in public contrasts what they do in secret. They are sitting on idols. There are Christians who have seen the righteous beauties of the Cross and have tasted of the eternal spring of the Christ and yet sit on idols. Christians who have a form of godliness and yet, like Lot’s wife, embrace the treasures of Sodom.
Preachers but hypocrites,
Prayer warriors in church but liars at home,
Pornography addicts who are fellowship leaders,
Party lovers who are ushers,
Christians who sit on Idols.
The narrative doesn’t end with the curious life of Rachel. Not many verses down the text, Laban and Jacob forgive one another and share a covenant meal together.
Afterwards, the come into a covenant of peace. It is the name of this altar that most fascinates,
But it was also called Mizpah (which means “watchtower”), for Laban said, “May the Lord keep watch between us to make sure that we keep this covenant when we are out of each other’s sight.
Genesis 31:49 NLT
Laban and Jacob reference the omniscience of God. At Mizpah, the recognize God as he who sees & knows both the public and secret life of a man. The one who cannot be deceived because all things lay bare before him.
Here is a counsel for you my reader, realize that we shall all stand before the Judgement seat of Christ to give accounts of our live — public and private. On that day, the records of Mizpah will be played like a videocassette. Be careful that you are not like Rachel. Be careful that you are not siting in sinful convenience. Be careful you are not paradox. Be careful you are not sitting on idols
