17.05.2025 – Genesis Chapter 31 | BELIEVE HIS PROPHETS

π May 17, 2025
π DAILY BIBLE READING
β¨ Genesis 31 β Jacobβs Return Home: From Deception to Reconciliation Under Godβs Protection
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π Bible Text β Genesis 31 (KJV)
1 And he heard the words of Laban’s sons, saying, Jacob hath taken away all that was our father’s; and of that which was our father’s hath he gotten all this glory.
2Β And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.
3Β And theΒ LordΒ said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.
4Β And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock,
5Β And said unto them, I see your father’s countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father hath been with me.
6Β And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.
7Β And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.
8Β If he said thus, The speckled shall be thy wages; then all the cattle bare speckled: and if he said thus, The ringstraked shall be thy hire; then bare all the cattle ringstraked.
9Β Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.
10Β And it came to pass at the time that the cattle conceived, that I lifted up mine eyes, and saw in a dream, and, behold, the rams which leaped upon the cattle were ringstraked, speckled, and grisled.
11Β And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.
12Β And he said, Lift up now thine eyes, and see, all the rams which leap upon the cattle are ringstraked, speckled, and grisled: for I have seen all that Laban doeth unto thee.
13Β I am the God of Bethel, where thou anointedst the pillar, and where thou vowedst a vow unto me: now arise, get thee out from this land, and return unto the land of thy kindred.
14Β And Rachel and Leah answered and said unto him, Is there yet any portion or inheritance for us in our father’s house?
15Β Are we not counted of him strangers? for he hath sold us, and hath quite devoured also our money.
16Β For all the riches which God hath taken from our father, that is ours, and our children’s: now then, whatsoever God hath said unto thee, do.
17Β Then Jacob rose up, and set his sons and his wives upon camels;
18Β And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had gotten, the cattle of his getting, which he had gotten in Padanaram, for to go to Isaac his father in the land of Canaan.
19Β And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father’s.
20Β And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.
21Β So he fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead.
22Β And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.
23Β And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days’ journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.
24Β And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
25Β Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.
26Β And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword?
27Β Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp?
28Β And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.
29Β It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.
30Β And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father’s house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?
31Β And Jacob answered and said to Laban, Because I was afraid: for I said, Peradventure thou wouldest take by force thy daughters from me.
32Β With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live: before our brethren discern thou what is thine with me, and take it to thee. For Jacob knew not that Rachel had stolen them.
33Β And Laban went into Jacob’s tent, and into Leah’s tent, and into the two maidservants’ tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah’s tent, and entered into Rachel’s tent.
34Β Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel’s furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.
35Β And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched but found not the images.
36Β And Jacob was wroth, and chode with Laban: and Jacob answered and said to Laban, What is my trespass? what is my sin, that thou hast so hotly pursued after me?
37Β Whereas thou hast searched all my stuff, what hast thou found of all thy household stuff? set it here before my brethren and thy brethren, that they may judge betwixt us both.
38Β This twenty years have I been with thee; thy ewes and thy she goats have not cast their young, and the rams of thy flock have I not eaten.
39Β That which was torn of beasts I brought not unto thee; I bare the loss of it; of my hand didst thou require it, whether stolen by day, or stolen by night.
40Β Thus I was; in the day the drought consumed me, and the frost by night; and my sleep departed from mine eyes.
41Β Thus have I been twenty years in thy house; I served thee fourteen years for thy two daughters, and six years for thy cattle: and thou hast changed my wages ten times.
42Β Except the God of my father, the God of Abraham, and the fear of Isaac, had been with me, surely thou hadst sent me away now empty. God hath seen mine affliction and the labour of my hands, and rebuked thee yesternight.
43Β And Laban answered and said unto Jacob, These daughters are my daughters, and these children are my children, and these cattle are my cattle, and all that thou seest is mine: and what can I do this day unto these my daughters, or unto their children which they have born?
44Β Now therefore come thou, let us make a covenant, I and thou; and let it be for a witness between me and thee.
45Β And Jacob took a stone, and set it up for a pillar.
46Β And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather stones; and they took stones, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap.
47Β And Laban called it Jegarsahadutha: but Jacob called it Galeed.
48Β And Laban said, This heap is a witness between me and thee this day. Therefore was the name of it called Galeed;
49Β And Mizpah; for he said, TheΒ LordΒ watch between me and thee, when we are absent one from another.
50Β If thou shalt afflict my daughters, or if thou shalt take other wives beside my daughters, no man is with us; see, God is witness betwixt me and thee.
51Β And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee:
52Β This heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm.
53Β The God of Abraham, and the God of Nahor, the God of their father, judge betwixt us. And Jacob sware by the fear of his father Isaac.
54Β Then Jacob offered sacrifice upon the mount, and called his brethren to eat bread: and they did eat bread, and tarried all night in the mount.
55Β And early in the morning Laban rose up, and kissed his sons and his daughters, and blessed them: and Laban departed, and returned unto his place.
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π¦ Introduction
After twenty years serving Laban, Jacob senses it is time to go home. Laban grows hostile, and the LORD calls Jacob back to Canaan. But his departure triggers a secret flight, Labanβs pursuit, a tense standoff, and ultimately a peaceful covenant. In this chapter we see human fear and divine protection intersect. Jacob matures into a man of responsibility, defending his family and asserting his rightsβyet he continually experiences Godβs faithful care.
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π¨ Commentary
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Hostility and Divine Call (vv. 1β3)
Accusations from Labanβs sons and a changing attitude in Laban prompt Jacob to hear Godβs voice: βReturnβ¦ I am with you.β Godβs call comes amid conflict, not calm. -
Family Council in the Field (vv. 4β16)
Jacob gathers Rachel and Leah to explain Labanβs deceit and Godβs intervention. The two sisters side with Jacob, affirming Godβs redistribution of their fatherβs wealth. Jacob now leads as patriarch. -
Secret Flight and Rachelβs Theft (vv. 17β21)
Jacob escapes at night with his wives, children, and livestock. Rachel stealthily takes her fatherβs household idols. Their departure blends faithful obedience and human deception. -
Labanβs Pursuit and Godβs Warning (vv. 22β24)
Laban pursues Jacob for seven days, but God warns him in a dream to speak kindly to Jacob. God defends His servant by sovereign intervention. -
Confrontation and False Accusations (vv. 25β35)
Laban reproaches Jacob for fleeing secretly and accuses him of theft. Unaware that Rachel stole the idols, Jacob endures questioning until Rachel diverts suspicion with a feigned menstrual excuse. -
Jacobβs Justified Rebuttal (vv. 36β42)
Jacob recounts twenty years of honest labor, hardship, and Labanβs repeated wage changes, crediting Godβs hand for his prosperity and survival. βBut Godβ¦ has seen my affliction,β he declares. -
The Covenant of Reconciliation (vv. 43β55)
Despite tensions, Laban proposes a covenant. They set up a heap of stones and a pillar as mutual witness. Jacob swears by βthe fear of Isaac,β and they share a mealβsymbolizing restored peace.
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π© Summary
In Genesis 31 Jacob heeds Godβs call, flees Labanβs household, is pursued, yet is miraculously protected. Conflict gives way to an honest confrontation and a covenant of peace. Jacob emerges a seasoned leader under divine guardianship, demonstrating both human frailty and Godβs unbroken faithfulness.
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π₯ Message for Today
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Godβs call often comes amid turmoil. We can trust His guidance even in the midst of conflict.
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Divine protection is subtle. God may watch over us by redirecting the hearts of others, not by grand displays of power.
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Reconciliation is possible even after long-standing disputesβthrough mutual honesty and Godβs enabling.
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Honest reflection on Godβs past faithfulness empowers us to trust Him for the future.
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Covenants before God remind us that our highest accountability is to Himβour ultimate witness and judge.
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π May 11β17, 2025
π WEEKLY SPIRIT OF PROPHECY READING
π Ellen G. White β Patriarchs and Prophets β Chapter 5
β¨ Cain and Abel Tested
π Read online here
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π¦ Introduction
The story of Cain and Abel is more than an account of the first murder. Itβs a portrait of two fundamentally different attitudes toward Godβfaith versus self-righteousness, obedience to oneβs own works. In their contrast we see the two great camps that will persist throughout salvation history: those who accept Godβs way of redemption through the blood of Jesusβand those who think they can come to God without sacrifice, humility, or a Savior. The tragic escalation between the brothers reveals the consequences of a religion without heart, without grace, and without genuine repentance.
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π¨ Commentary
- Two Brothers, Two Hearts β Cainβs Pride, Abelβs Faith
Abel saw Godβs law as grace and order, offering an animal sacrifice in faith for redemption. Cain treated sacrifice as mere duty, refused the blood offering, and sought approval through his own works. - The Difference in the Offeringβand in the Attitude
Both built altars and offered gifts. But God looked at the heart: Abelβs offering was acceptedβthrough faith (Heb. 11:4); Cainβs was rejectedβfor unbelief and rebellion. Cain rejected Godβs way and tried to justify himself by performance. - Faith Shows Itself in Obedience
Cainβs offering was externally correct but internally empty. True worship requires obedience born of faith, subordinating us to Godβs will. Abel recognized his sin and need for atonementβCain did not. - Godβs Warning and Cainβs Rejection
God speaks kindly to Cain, warning him of sin (Gen. 4:6β7). Cain refuses to submit and allows jealousy and anger to grow. The brother who shames him by obedience becomes his enemy. - The Murder of Abelβand the Spiritual Line
Cain kills Abelβnot in self-defense, but out of hatred for his righteousness. This is the first act of spiritual persecution: the righteous pursued by the unrighteousβa pattern repeated through history. Abel dies as a witness of faithβhis testimony still speaks (Heb. 11:4). - Godβs Judgment and Mercy
Cain is held accountable: he lies and shows no remorse. Godβs judgment followsβcursed ground, restless wandering, exile. Yet God does not destroy him; He gives him a chance to repent, which Cain never takes. - Cain as Father of Rebellion
Unrepentant, Cain becomes the progenitor of a godless culture. His example shapes generationsβup to the Flood. Godβs decision not to slay the first murderer at once shows the full scope of human defiance. - The Great ConflictβUntil the End of Time
Cain and Abel exemplify two spiritual camps: those who trust in Christβs blood and those who think they can save themselves. This chapter foreshadows the cosmic struggle between light and darkness, truth and error, grace and lawlessness. The story repeats in new forms until Christ returns.
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π© Summary
Cain and Abel are two brothers of the same origin but with completely different paths. Abel brings the sacrifice God demands and is counted righteous by faith; Cain rejects Godβs instructions and, in envy, kills his brother. Their story mirrors humanity: two modes of worship, two attitudes toward Godβs Wordβand two very different outcomes. Abelβs blood calls for justice; Cainβs rebellion brings Godβs judgment. Yet throughout, Godβs patience and mercy remain visibleβeven toward the murderer.
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π₯ Message for Us Today
- True faith produces obedience. Faith without obedience is dead. Abel obeyed and was justifiedβthis remains true.
- We cannot impress God by our works. Those who come without Christβs blood are rejected like Cainβnot for lack of effort, but out of pride.
- Godβs way is non-negotiable. He has ordained the path of redemption through Jesusβ blood. Any attempt to bypass it leads to ruin.
- Godβs warnings are an expression of love. Cain was warned. Today God still calls sinners to repentance before judgment falls.
- Faith is a choice. Abel and Cain faced the same truthβonly one embraced it. Faith is not accidental but obedience in trust.
- The conflict between light and darkness endures. Followers of Christ will face rejection, resistance, even hatred. But like Abel, we can know: God sees, God remembers, and God will bring justice.