Genesis 31:22-31

2009.Mar.06 17:00

Politics

Read Genesis 31:22-31 | Full Chapter

When it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob had fled, then he took his kinsmen with him and pursued him a distance of seven days' journey, and he overtook him in the hill country of Gilead. God came to Laban the Aramean in a dream of the night and said to him, "Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad."
(Genesis 31:22-24, NASB)

So, Laban realizes Jacob is headed out–without so much as a good-bye–and follows him. But before Laban reaches his son-in-law, Yahweh gives him a rather odd message in a dream: “Be careful that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad.” Looking through various other versions gives no particular insight. So, I would take this to mean that Laban should not try to talk with Jacob, period, and should in fact head on back. Obviously, this is not how Laban takes it. Whether that is indicative that Laban is unwilling to take sound advice, or that something has just been lost in translation, I couldn’t say.

Laban caught up with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the hill country, and Laban with his kinsmen camped in the hill country of Gilead. Then Laban said to Jacob, "What have you done by deceiving me and carrying away my daughters like captives of the sword? "Why did you flee secretly and deceive me, and did not tell me so that I might have sent you away with joy and with songs, with timbrel and with lyre; and did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters? Now you have done foolishly. "It is in my power to do you harm, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, 'Be careful not to speak either good or bad to Jacob.' "Now you have indeed gone away because you longed greatly for your father's house; but why did you steal my gods?" Then Jacob replied to Laban, "Because I was afraid, for I thought that you would take your daughters from me by force.
(Genesis 31:25-31, NASB)

Let’s play a bit of politics here, by which I mean, have two people not really saying what they’re probably thinking. Laban claims that he is mainly upset for two reasons:

1. He did not get to say a proper goodbye.
2. He believes Jacob stole the idol.

Jacob’s reason for hitting the road without telling his father-in-law seems a bit more sincere: he was afraid Laban would not allow Rachel and Leah to go with him. More sincere, but probably not the full reason either.

God’s message to Laban, however strangely interpretted–in my opinion–seems to be the saving grace here. Laban uses it to save face. “I was going to kick your bleep, but I’m going to be the better man, thanks to a timely message from your god.” Jacob is able to give a reasonable if incomplete answer, and thus Rachel’s thieving of Laban’s idols is the only standing issue.

I don’t see any particular lesson in all this, outside of reiterating my theme of relationship quality from the past many articles: “When you’re reduced to politics with your family to avoid actual killing, something’s, um, wrong.” I know that political phrases/tact/diplomacy is sometimes necessary even with family, but when dinner starts to feel like a presidential debate, only less civil, something needs to be done, if just asking Yahweh to intervene. That’s easy to write in a blog, difficult to follow.