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Genesis 31

1.      With God’s guidance, Jacob becomes a wealthy man, while continuing to care for Laban’s flocks.  Jacob’s sons’ inheritance grows while Laban’s sons’ inheritance dwindles.  According to what Jacob heard, what were Laban’s sons saying about Jacob?

What do you think is driving their comments?

Imagine your family owns a lot of land.  You lease some of it to a poor but hardworking family.  Soon, they plant the same crops you have planted, but you notice that their land is producing more per acre than your land.  Before long, this “poor” family is selling twice as much as your family and is even interested in buying the land.  How would feel and why?

The key word in the first verse is “heard” because Jacob and Laban are separated by a three day journey.  How do you think Jacob heard these reports?

These reports can be considered rumors or gossip.  Did Jacob have a right to know what his brothers-in-law were saying about him?  Please explain.

2.     According to verse 2, what had Jacob noticed about his father-in-law?

What might be the reason that his disposition concerning Jacob has changed?  When he first made the agreement about the sheep, what did Laban expect to happen?

Read Proverbs 14:10 and Proverbs 27:4.  How do these verses relate to Jacob’s situation?

Can you tell when someone’s countenance toward you has changed?  Please explain.

In Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, Brutus says about his friend Cassius, “You have described a hot friend cooling.”  What do you think he meant?

3.     Jacob receives another visit from the LORD.  What does the LORD tell him?

How eager do you think Jacob was to return to his family and home?

How long has he been away?

4.     What does Jacob do next?

Why do you think he wanted his wives to join him in the fields where the flocks were?

What does Jacob say to them in verse 5?

Why do you think he refers to God as “the God of my Father” ?

What accusation does Jacob make about Laban in verses 6 and 7?

Is what Jacob saying about his father-in-law true?  Please explain.

Why has Jacob prospered even under Laban’s devious ways?

5.     Read verses 8 and 9.  What is Jacob telling his wives?

According to Jacob, who was directly responsible for their prosperity?

Why do you think Jacob did not share this information with his wives earlier?

Specifically, what did the angel of the LORD tell Jacob in his dream?

If you were one of Jacob’s wives, how might this revelation affect you?

As the husband, Jacob could have simply told Leah and Rachel to pack up because they were leaving.  Why do you think he did not do so?

What does the Bible say about husbands and wives making decisions?  Please explain.

6.     How did Leah and Rachel respond to Jacob’s news?

What was the major reason they were willing to leave?

What do you think they mean when they say their father sold them and used up all the money?

7.     At the end of all this time, how would describe Laban’s relationship with Jacob?  With his daughters?

What is the main cause for these relationships?

What can parents learn from Laban’s behavior?

8.     Jacob decides not to say anything to Laban about leaving.  Why?

Would you describe Jacob as a wealthy man?  Please explain.

The Bible specifically tells us that Jacob drove off only his livestock.  Why is this important?

How long do you think it would have taken Jacob to prepare his family to leave?

Why did Laban not learn about their departure?

9.     Verse 19 is very interesting.  What did Rachel do while her father was out shearing sheep?

What does this tell us about Laban, that he would have household idols?

Now, for the big question:  why do you think Rachel stole the teraphim or household gods?

This is interesting.  Verse 19 says Rachel stole her father’s idols.  Verse 20 says Jacob deceived Laban by not telling Laban he was leaving.  The word for “stole” and for “deceived” is the same word:  ganab.  Ganab literally means to steal away or to thieve.  What does it mean to you that the Bible uses such a strong word to describe both Jacob and Rachel?

What does it tell you about Rachel that she would steal household idols?

Also, in what way does Rachel deceive her husband?

Verse 21 tells us that Jacob fled.  The word for fled means to run away.  When we look at the Hebrew words used to describe Jacob’s actions – to steal away and to run away – did Jacob make the right decision?  Pleases explain.

Look again at what God promised Jacob in verse 3.  Because of this promise, what should Jacob have done?

10.   Verse 21 tells us that Jacob crossed the river.  What river was that?

How long did it take Laban to discover Jacob had fled?

What do you think were his first thoughts?

Whom does he take with him?

How long does it take Laban to overtake Jacob?

Verse 23 tells us that Laban caught Jacob in the hill country of Gilead.  Can you locate this on a map?

11.    Now the LORD appears to Laban in a dream.  What does God tell Laban?

What do you think Laban intended to do when he caught Jacob?

Why do you think God told Laban not to say anything instead of not to harm Jacob?

12.   Finally, the two men meet.  What does Laban, both father and grandfather, say to Jacob?

Laban launches into a series of accusations against Jacob.  Laban asks one question after another but does not wait for an answer.  How might you respond if someone did the same to you?

According to Laban, what was he ready to do if Jacob had only told him they wanted to leave?

Do you believe him?

Laban goes through a series of offenses:  Jacob left secretly, Jacob did not allow him to say goodbye to his daughters, and Jacob kept him from kissing his grandchildren farewell.  Laban then tells Jacob that he has the power to harm, but he will not.  Why?

What is the last accusation he makes to Jacob?

Of all that Laban said, what do you think was truly behind his anger?

13.   What is Jacob’s answer concerning Laban’s daughters?

Why might Jacob have been afraid Laban would take his wives away by force?

Next, Jacob addresses Laban’s charge that they stole his household idols.  What claim does Jacob make?

What does Jacob say should happen to the one who stole the idols?

Why would Jacob make such a strong statement against the “thief”?

To prove his innocence, what does Jacob suggest Laban do?

What do you think Rachel was feeling as her father and those with him started searching for the idols?

Why do you think Rachel did not simply tell the truth?

14.   Interestingly, where does Laban begin searching?

What does this tell us about Laban and what he thought of Jacob’s statement?

Where does Laban go after searching Jacob’s tent?

Earlier, we said that Jacob was a deceiver.  Well, he has fallen in love with a like-minded woman.  Rachel knows that Laban will search her tent.  Before he gets there, what does she do with the idols?

Where was Rachel as her father was searching her tent?

What reason does she give for not standing in her father’s presence?

How do you think Laban was feeling as he could not find his idols?

15.   In what ways does this episode with Rachel and her father mirror the episode with Jacob and Esau?

In what way or ways has Rachel reaped what she has sown?  Has Jacob?  Has Laban?

16.   How would you define righteous anger?

Why do you believe Jacob grew angry when Laban found nothing?

What does the Bible tell us about anger?  (See Psalm 4:4; Eph 4:26; James 1:19-20.)

Was Jacob’s anger justified?  Please explain.

Can you give an example of righteous anger?  Of man’s anger?

17.   Verse 36 tells us that Jacob took Laban to task.  Over versions say that he chided Laban.  The word for “take to task” or “chided” is a legal term that means “to conduct a case or suit”.  So, Jacob is now going to present his case for becoming angry.  With what rhetorical questions does he begin?

Next, Jacob wants to see evidence that he has committed a crime or sinned against Laban.  What evidence does Laban have?

In verses 38-41 Jacob presents his case.  Specifically, what evidence of his faithfulness and honesty does Jacob present to Laban?

Following his case, what does Jacob say saved him from harm and from leaving empty-handed?

What do you think he meant by the “Fear of Isaac”?

In verse 42 Jacob states that God has protected.  Then he states that God rebuked Laban the night before.  How did Jacob know that?

18.   Laban has lost the case.  What do you think he meant when he said, “All that you see is mine”?

Because he can do nothing, Laban wants to make a covenant with Jacob.  What do they use as a “witness” and a reminder of their covenant?

Notice in verse 45 that Jacob encouraged all his relatives to gather stones.  Why did he do this?

What name did Laban give the heap of stones?  What does it mean?

What name did Jacob give it?  What does it mean?

Laban states that the stones would be a witness between Jacob and him.  Therefore, what other name was the place given?

Do we use monuments to remind us of covenants or agreements today?  If so, can you give an example?

19.   Laban gives voice to the covenant.  Why is God to be a witness between them?

What does Laban not want Jacob to do concerning his daughters?

In what way does God serve as a witness when we make an agreement? 

Does God’s being a witness help you keep your word?  Please explain.

What significance does the pillar hold for both Laban and Jacob?

Why do you think Laban would enter into a covenant with his son-in-law that states they will not harm each other?

20.  Both men take an oath.  In verse 53, whose name does Laban use to take the oath?

Whose name does Jacob use to take the oath?

Look carefully at Laban’s words.  Who was the “god” of Abraham, of Abraham’s father, and of Abraham’s grandfather?

Who was the God of Isaac?

What would you say is the biggest difference between these two men?

Why do you think God wanted Jacob to return to his family and to the land of his fathers?

21.   What does Jacob do to seal the covenant?

What do you think the mood was like at the dinner?  Please explain.

What do you think Rachel was feeling during this time?

Before he left, what did Laban do?

22.  Laban serves as the perfect example of a person who sees the benefits of associating with the followers of Jesus but does not desire a personal relationship with Him.  Without giving names, have you ever encountered such a person?

What can you learn from this chapter about how to deal with them?

Why do you think Jacob never tried to “lead” Laban to the LORD?

23.  Looking back at this chapter, what major changes have you seen occur in Jacob?

What would you say is the biggest change and why?

The chapter seems to end on a good note, with Laban and Jacob parting in peace.  However, Rachel did steal the idols.  Why do you think that was not mentioned again?