Genesis 31:20-24: a reflection

20Jacob deceived Laban the Syrian, in that he didn’t tell him that he was running away. 21So he fled with all that he had. He rose up, passed over the River, and set his face toward the mountain of Gilead. 22Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled. 23He took his relatives with him, and pursued him seven days’ journey. He overtook him in the mountain of Gilead. 24God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream of the night, and said to him, “Be careful that you don’t speak to Jacob either good or bad.”

When Jacob flees from Laban, Laban pursues him with his kinsmen, overtaking him after seven days, and there is every reason to fear what an angry Laban might do. But before Laban reaches Jacob, God intervenes: God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream of the night, and said to him, Be careful that you don't speak to Jacob either good or bad. Unseen by Jacob, God had gone ahead and restrained Laban, warning him not to harm his servant. The protection Jacob needed was provided before he even knew the danger, by a God who restrained the one who pursued him.

Notice how God protected Jacob by restraining Laban, unseen. Jacob had fled in fear, and Laban pursued in anger; the danger was real. But God went ahead of the confrontation and restrained Laban in a dream, warning him not to harm Jacob. Jacob did not see this happen; the protection was unseen, provided before he could even know how he had been spared. God restrained the one who would have harmed him, guarding his servant by a means Jacob never saw. The protection was real, though hidden; God had gone ahead and held back the danger before it reached him.

That is worth taking to heart, for God can protect us by restraining those who would harm us, often in ways we never see. We face people and forces that could harm us, and often do not know how near the danger comes; but God can go ahead of us and restrain those who would harm us, as he warned Laban not to touch Jacob. Much of God's protection is unseen; he restrains dangers and adversaries in ways we never know, guarding us before we are even aware of the threat. When you fear those who might harm you, remember that God can restrain them, unseen, as he restrained Laban from harming Jacob. Trust that God can protect you by restraining those who would harm you, often in ways you never see, as he warned Laban in a dream not to touch Jacob; for much of God's protection is hidden, and he guards his people by holding back dangers and adversaries we may never even know were near.

Lord, when Jacob flees from Laban, Laban pursues him with his kinsmen, overtaking him after seven days, and there is every reason to fear what an angry Laban might do. But before Laban reaches Jacob, you intervene: God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream of the night, and said to him, be careful that you don't speak to Jacob either good or bad. Unseen by Jacob, you had gone ahead and restrained Laban, warning him not to harm his servant. The protection Jacob needed was provided before he even knew the danger. Show me how you protected Jacob by restraining Laban, unseen. Jacob had fled in fear, and Laban pursued in anger; the danger was real. But you went ahead of the confrontation and restrained Laban in a dream. Jacob did not see this happen; the protection was unseen, provided before he could even know how he had been spared. You restrained the one who would have harmed him, guarding your servant by a means Jacob never saw. Take that to my heart, for you can protect me by restraining those who would harm me, often in ways I never see. I face people and forces that could harm me, and often do not know how near the danger comes; but you can go ahead of me and restrain those who would harm me, as you warned Laban not to touch Jacob. Much of your protection is unseen. When I fear those who might harm me, help me remember that you can restrain them, unseen, Lord, as you restrained Laban from harming Jacob. Help me trust that you can protect me by restraining those who would harm me, often in ways I never see.