Genesis 31 — Sketch

Stolen Gods

Big Idea:

• Laban’s family becomes jealous of Jacob’s success.

• God tells Jacob to go back home.

• In a dream, God tells Jacob that He was the cause of Jacob's flock increase.

• As Jacob sneaks away with his family, Rachel steals Laban’s household gods.

• Laban chases after Jacob but is warned by God in a dream not to say anything to Jacob.

• Laban demands that Jacob give him an explanation for leaving and that he return the stolen gods.⁠

• Jacob says that anyone found with the gods will be killed and lets Laban search the camp.

• Fearing for her life, Rachel puts the gods under a camel saddle and sits on it.

• When Laban asks her to move, she lies and says that she can’t move because she’s having her period.

• Defeated, Laban asks Jacob for a covenant.

• Jacob makes a sacrifice and shares a meal with Laban’s family.

• The next morning, Laban lets them go.

Jesus in This Chapter:

When Jacob found freedom from Laban, Rachel stole Laban’s gods and then sat on them, a show of disrespect. When we find freedom from sin through Jesus, we also find that the old “gods” in our lives lose their power.

(Originally drawn August 8, 2010)