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Day 33 – Witness Genesis 31:1 Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, “Jacob took away all that was our father’s, and from what was our father’s he acquired all this wealth.” 2 Jacob saw the countenance of Laban, and indeed it was not favorable toward him as before. 3 Then the LORD (Jehovah) said to Jacob, “Return to the land of your fathers and to your family, and I will be with you.” 4 Jacob called Rachel and Leah to the field, to his flock, 5 and said to them, “I see your father’s countenance is not favorable toward me as before; but the God (Elohiym) of my father has been with me. 6 You know I served your father with all my might. 7 Yet your father deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God (Elohiym) did not allow him to hurt me. 8 If he said thus: ‘The speckled will be your wages,’ then the flocks bore speckled. If he said thus: ‘The streaked will be your wages,’ then the flocks bore streaked. 9 So God (Elohiym) took away the livestock of your father and gave them to me. 10 It happened, at the time when the flocks conceived, that I lifted my eyes and saw in a dream, and behold, the rams which leaped upon the flocks were streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted. 11 Then the Angel (Malak) of God (Elohiym) spoke to me in a dream, saying, ‘Jacob.’ I said, ‘Here I am.’ 12 He said, ‘Lift your eyes now and see, all the rams which leap on the flocks are streaked, speckled, and gray-spotted; for I saw all Laban did to you. 13 I am the God (El) of Bethel, where you anointed the pillar and where you made a vow to Me. Now arise, get out of this land, and return to the land of your family.’” 14 Then Rachel and Leah answered and said to him, “Is there still any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house? 15 Are we not considered strangers by him? For he sold us and consumed our money. 16 For these riches which God (Elohiym) took from our father are ours and our children’s; now then, whatever God (Elohiym) said to you, do it.” 17 Then Jacob rose and set his sons and his wives on camels. 18 He carried away his livestock and his possessions which he gained, his acquired livestock which he gained in Padan Aram, to go to his father Isaac in the land of Canaan. 19 Now Laban went to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole the household idols that were her father’s. 20 Jacob stole away, unknown to Laban the Syrian, in that he did not tell him he intended to flee. 21 So he fled with all that he had. He arose and crossed the river and headed toward the mountains of Gilead. 22 Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled. 23 Then he took his brethren with him and pursued him for seven days’ journey, and he overtook him in the mountains of Gilead. 24 God (Elohiym) had come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, “Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.” 25 So Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mountains, and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mountains of Gilead. 26 Laban said to Jacob: “What have you done, that you have stolen away unknown to me, and carried away my daughters like captives taken with the sword? 27 Why did you flee away secretly, and steal away from me, and not tell me; for I might have sent you away with joy and songs, with timbrel and harp? 28 You did not allow me to kiss my sons and my daughters. Now you have done foolishly in so doing. 29 It is in my power to do you harm, but the God (Elohiym) of your father spoke to me last night, saying, ‘Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad.’ 30 Now you have gone because you long for your father’s house, but why did you steal my gods?” 31 Then Jacob answered and said to Laban, “Because I was afraid, for I said, ‘Perhaps you would take your daughters from me by force.’ 32 With whomever you find your gods, do not let him live. In the presence of our brethren, identify what I have of yours and take it with you.” For Jacob did not know Rachel had stolen them. 33 Laban went into Jacob’s tent, into Leah’s tent, and into the two maids’ tents, but he did not find them. Then he went out of Leah’s tent and entered Rachel’s tent. 34 Now Rachel took the household idols, put them in the camel’s saddle, and sat on them. Laban searched all about the tent but did not find them. 35 She said to her father, “Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise before you, for the manner of women is with me.” He searched but did not find the household idols. 36 Then Jacob was angry and rebuked Laban, and Jacob answered and said to Laban, “What is my trespass? What is my sin, that you have so hotly pursued me? 37 Although you searched my things, what part of your household things have you found? Set it here before my brethren and your brethren, that they may judge between us both! 38 These twenty years I have been with you; your ewes and your female goats have not miscarried their young, and I have not eaten the rams of your flock. 39 That which was torn by beasts I did not bring to you; I bore the loss of it. You required it from my hand, whether stolen by day or stolen by night. 40 There I was! In the day, the drought consumed me, and the frost by night, and my sleep departed from my eyes. 41 Thus I have been in your house twenty years; I served you fourteen years for your two daughters, and six years for your flock, and you changed my wages ten times. 42 Unless the God (Elohiym) of my father, the God (Elohiym) of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely now you would have sent me away empty-handed. God (Elohiym) saw my affliction and the labor of my hands and rebuked you last night.” 43 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.” 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 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 (Jehovah) 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 (Elohiym) 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 (Elohiym) of Abraham, the God (Elohiym) of Nahor, and the God (Elohiym) of their father judge between us.” 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. They ate bread and stayed all night on the mountain. 55 Early in the morning Laban arose, and kissed his sons and daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned to his place. God’s name: Elohiym – Mighty God Jehovah – Self-existent, Eternal El – God Malak – Angel – Preincarnate Son of God God’s character: Witness It takes courage to stand up for what is right. When you face situations that could bring trouble your way, it’s easier to flee than to face them. Jacob saw and heard what Laban’s sons said about him. With Elohiym’s blessing, he told his wives he intended to leave Laban and return home to his father in Canaan. His wives agreed to leave as they no longer had an inheritance with their father. However, before they left, Rachel stole the household gods, unknown to Jacob. Laban pursued Jacob when he learned he fled. When he did, Elohiym came to him in a dream and told him not to harm Jacob. When he caught up with Jacob, he accused him of leaving without his blessing, and told him what Elohiym told him in the dream. Then he accused him of taking his idols. Jacob told him to search everything, and if he found the idols, the person who had them would die, not knowing Rachel took them, he condemned her to death. When Laban did not find the idols among all their belongings, they agreed to set up a stone as a witness not to harm one another but would go their ways in peace. How often have you said, “As God is my witness”? Many times. You said it to prove you did nothing wrong. You don’t want anyone to harm you for what they perceive you did. Yet, you still need to prove your innocence. When Elohiym is with you in everything you do, nothing and no one can harm you. Even when accusations come your way, they will amount to nothing. Elohiym will always be your witness. When He is for you, nothing can stand against you. Let’s pray: Father, You are my witness in everything I say and do. You know my heart, and my love for You. Let those who come against me know You stand beside me as my witness. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 20 February 2024 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.