Genesis 31:17-25
Jacob woke extra early this morning. He stretched then pulled his blanket up to his nose. "Wait--What am I doing? --Today, I'm going home!"
He leaped out of bed and danced a jig. "I'm taking my family home to the land God has given my family. They're gonna love it. Oh, I can't wait to see father, and mother, and well--". He raised an eyebrow. "I wonder if Esau will still want to kill me....hmmmm."
Jacob brushed the tent flap away. A servant heaved a heavy trunk on top a camel. Little Joseph ran to Jacob and gave him a hug.
He rubbed his eyes then giggled. "Father, I'm going on a long trip to see your father.""Yes, we all are. You, your mother, all your brothers, all our family will go."
Joseph looked up. "Can I say bye to Grandpa Laban?"
Jacob shook his head. "Not now, Son. His house is three days journey away. Not only that, he's very busy right now. Come. Let's join the others."
Joseph skipped over to his brothers. He sneaked behind his sister Dinah and yanked her hair.
Jacob called the family together. "It's time to leave. We have a long journey, so we best get started." He helped his sons and wives onto their camels.
Leah lost her balance, but Jacob helped to steady her. "Jacob, won't my father be upset that we're not saying good bye before we leave?"
Jacob sighed. "I'd rather not think about him right now. It'd ruin our journey. He's deceived me for the last time."
"But the children--they want to say good bye."
Jacob shook his head. "If he finds out we're leaving, he'll devise a plan to make us stay. No. Not another day. My sons and daughter belong in the land God has given my father, Isaac, and his father, Abraham."
Jacob walked over to Rachel. "Are you OK?"
Rachel smiled. "Yes, of course. I made sure everything was packed."
"That's one thing Laban can't accuse me of." Jacob rolled his eyes. "I've taken nothing that doesn't belong to us." He glanced back at their belongings packed high on the camels. "You checked all the supply trunks, right? There is nothing here that doesn't belong to us, right?"
"Yes, Jacob." Rachel placed her hand on Jacob's arm. "Father would be furious if we took something of his."
"Good." He squeezed her hand and walked to the front of the caravan.
The servants herded the livestock together. Jacob smiled then waved forward. "Let's go!"
He led his family south across the river and desert toward the mountains of Gilead. Time passed quickly. Several days later they reached the mountains. Jacob looked for a flat area to set up camp.
"Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, help stake the tents." As Jacob turned to check on his sons he noticed a group of riders in the distance.
Rachel ran up to Jacob and grabbed his arm. Her eyes were wide. "Father's come after us. What'll we do?"
Jacob stood tall. "Don't worry. God will take care of us."
Do you think Jacob was concerned? His wives and children were Laban's daughters and grandchildren. Jacob moved them away without saying good bye. If someone sneaks something do they really know deep down that they're doing something they shouldn't be doing?
Sometimes sneaking isn't bad, like when you put a present under the Christmas tree without wanting anyone seeing you. You reason for sneaking is to make someone happy. But Jacob didn't sneak away to make Laban happy. Why did Jacob sneak away? What did he do that would have made God sad?
