Genesis 31:43-55 NKJV 43 And Laban answered and said to Jacob, “These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and this flock is my flock; all that you see is mine. But what can I do this day to these my daughters or to their children whom they have borne? 44 Now therefore, come, let us make a covenant, you and I, and let it be a witness between you and me.”
45 So Jacob took a stone and set it up as a pillar. 46 Then Jacob said to his brethren, “Gather stones.” And they took stones and made a heap, and they ate there on the heap. 47 Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed. 48 And Laban said, “This heap is a witness between you and me this day.” Therefore its name was called Galeed, 49 also Mizpah, because he said, “May the Lord watch between you and me when we are absent one from another. 50 If you afflict my daughters, or if you take other wives besides my daughters, although no man is with us—see, God is witness between you and me!”
51 Then Laban said to Jacob, “Here is this heap and here is this pillar, which I have placed between you and me. 52 This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not pass beyond this heap to you, and you will not pass beyond this heap and this pillar to me, for harm. 53 The God of Abraham, the God of Nahor, and the God of their father judge between us.” And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac. 54 Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his brethren to eat bread. And they ate bread and stayed all night on the mountain. 55 And early in the morning Laban arose, and kissed his sons and daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned to his place.
In today’s reading Jacob and Laban part ways after the dispute in yesterday’s reading. They constructed a stone heap and Laban declared that God would watch between them when they were absent from each other. They would not pass beyond the heap to afflict or harm each other. Jacob offered a sacrifice to God in faith and trust and called his brethren to eat bread. “In the morning Laban arose and kissed his sons and daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned to his place” (v 55).
In setting up the stone heap and the words he uses, Laban seems to think that Jacob cannot be trusted not to afflict his daughters or take other wives besides his daughters. He seems afraid that Jacob may devise some evil against him or that his relatives, who may eventually wish to avenge these wrongs, may do so. He asks that God watch to make sure those things do not happen. This is in direct contrast to the clear faithfulness and honorable character Jacob had demonstrated, particularly when he agreed to work for Laban for seven years in order to have Rachel as his wife, was deceived by Laban, and then eventually Rachel was given to him.
Jacob suffered an injustice from Laban; it was unwarranted. Jacob could very well have retaliated and cried foul…but he did not. Of this Luther says, “But Jacob praises God and the Fear of his father, that is, Christ, because he was liberated from that scoundrel” (LW AE6).
When wronged, we are given to thank and praise God for His faithfulness and His promises, as Jacob modeled and as Christ Himself teaches. Whatever the circumstances, God is in charge and His Word is certain; He will never disappoint. Through regular reception of Christ’s Gospel – that our sins are paid for by Him – and the Sacraments, we will be kept in God’s grace and have our faith strengthened for all eventualities.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, thank You for your faithfulness. Lead and guide me always to You. Amen.