Genesis 31:25-30: a reflection

25Laban caught up with Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountain, and Laban with his relatives encamped in the mountain of Gilead. 26Laban said to Jacob, “What have you done, that you have deceived me, and carried away my daughters like captives of the sword? 27Why did you flee secretly, and deceive me, and didn’t tell me, that I might have sent you away with mirth and with songs, with tambourine and with harp; 28and didn’t allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters? Now you have done foolishly. 29It is in the power of my hand to hurt you, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful that you don’t speak to Jacob either good or bad.’ 30Now, you want to be gone, because you greatly longed for your father’s house, but why have you stolen my gods?”

Laban, having pursued Jacob who fled with his family and flocks, catches up to him and confronts him angrily. Why did you deceive me and carry off my daughters, he demands; you have acted foolishly. And then he says something revealing: 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 say anything to Jacob, either good or bad. For all his bluster, Laban admits that he cannot do the harm he might have wished, because God had warned him off.

The heart of this scene is God's protection of Jacob. Laban had the power and the anger to harm Jacob, but God had intervened, appearing to Laban in the night and restraining him. The angry, pursuing father could rage and complain, but he could not lay a hand on the man God was guarding. God had gone before his servant, putting a restraint on the one who meant him harm. Jacob was protected not by his own strength or cunning but by the God who watched over him.

There is comfort here for anyone who faces someone with the power and the will to harm them. God is able to restrain those who would do us harm, to put a guard around his own that others cannot cross without his allowing it. Laban admitted, in effect, that he was held back by God. When you feel vulnerable to someone stronger or angrier than you, remember that your safety rests not in your own strength but in the God who watches over you, and who is able to restrain even those who wish you ill. Trust the God who went before Jacob to go before you.

Lord, when angry Laban had the power to harm Jacob, you restrained him, warning him in the night not to touch your servant. When I feel vulnerable to someone stronger or angrier than I am, remind me that my safety rests not in my own strength but in you. You are able to restrain those who would do me harm and to guard your own. Go before me as you went before Jacob, and keep me safe. Amen.