Genesis 31:31-35: a reflection

31Jacob answered Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I said, ‘Lest you should take your daughters from me by force.’ 32Anyone you find your gods with shall not live. Before our relatives, discern what is yours with me, and take it.” For Jacob didn’t know that Rachel had stolen them. 33Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent, and into the tent of the two female servants; but he didn’t find them. He went out of Leah’s tent, and entered into Rachel’s tent. 34Now Rachel had taken the teraphim, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them. Laban felt around all the tent, but didn’t find them. 35She said to her father, “Don’t let my lord be angry that I can’t rise up before you; for I’m having my period.” He searched, but didn’t find the teraphim.

As Jacob leaves Laban after many years, secretly and in fear, his wife Rachel takes with her the household idols, the little images that belonged to her father. When Laban pursues them and searches the camp for his gods, Rachel hides them and conceals what she has done. It is a strange and telling detail: even as the family sets out for a new land and a new future under God's leading, Rachel carries the old household idols along with her.

Notice what Rachel brought with her out of the old life: the idols. She was leaving her father's house, setting out on a new journey, toward the land God had promised; and she carried the household gods along, hidden, unwilling to leave them behind. Whatever her reasons, the picture is striking: a person moving toward God's future while still clutching the idols of the past, unwilling to let them go.

That is a picture of something we can easily do. We can leave an old life outwardly, set out toward what God has for us, and yet secretly carry along the old idols in our hearts, the attachments, the false securities, the things we served before, unwilling to let them go. Outward change is not the same as leaving the idols behind. Ask what old idols you may still be carrying, hidden, even as you follow God toward something new. Do not clutch the household gods of your former life. Leave them behind, in your heart and not only in your circumstances, so that you follow God freely, carrying no hidden idols along with you. The journey toward God is meant to be made with hands and heart emptied of the old gods.

Lord, as Jacob's family left for a new land under your leading, Rachel secretly carried the household idols along, unwilling to leave them behind. Show me where I do the same. I can leave an old life outwardly, set out toward what you have for me, and yet secretly carry along the old idols in my heart, the attachments, the false securities, the things I served before, unwilling to let them go. Outward change is not the same as leaving the idols behind. Show me what old idols I may still be carrying, hidden, even as I follow you toward something new. Help me not to clutch the household gods of my former life, but to leave them behind in my heart, not only in my circumstances. Let me follow you freely, with hands and heart emptied of the old gods, carrying no hidden idols along. Free me to follow you unencumbered.