Genesis 31:1

Genesis 31:1 says, 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.  Jacob heard Laban's sons claiming that he had taken everything from their father.  This is the first time we hear anything about Laban's sons, and when we do, they are angry about Jacob taken what Laban and he had agreed on as Jacob's wages.  When material things are involved, often it doesn't take long for others, especially family members, to be upset if they think they are losing something.  Verse two states, And Jacob beheld the countenance of Laban, and, behold, it was not toward him as before.  Laban also changed his attitude toward Jacob, even though he had agreed to give Jacob the part of the flock that Jacob had taken.  Verse three declares, And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.  Basically, God told Jacob it was time for him to go home.  When we are in a bad situation, we need to listen to what God tells us.  If we obey God, He will never desert us.  Verse four declares, And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field unto his flock. Verse five adds,, 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.  Jacob sent Rachel and Leah out to his flocks, and then he told them that he could see that their father's attitude toward him had changed.  If we see possible danger to others, we should make them aware of it.  Jacob also said that the God of his father was with him. Verse six continues, And ye know that with all my power I have served your father.  Jacob reminded them that he had faithfully served their father.  We need to be faithful in our relationship to others, but we especially need to be faithful in our relationship to our heavenly Father.  Verse seven adds, And your father hath deceived me, and changed my wages ten times; but God suffered him not to hurt me.  Jacob said that Laban had cheated him multiple times, but that God had kept Jacob safe.  Even if other people cheat us, we can be certain that God is going to keep us spiritually safe forever if we are followers of Christ.  Verse eight states, I 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.  Basically, Jacob said he had no control over what color the animals would be born, and that he was just taking the ones that Laban and he had agreed on.  Verse nine adds, Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me.  Though Jacob was still calling God the God of his father, and not his God, Jacob recognized that God was the One giving him the animals.  Even those who may not have a personal relationship with God can often see His work in the world, especially those who are the children of those who believe in God.  Verse ten says, 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.  Then verse eleven adds, And the angel of God spake unto me in a dream, saying, Jacob: And I said, Here am I.  Then verse twelve continues, 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.  Jacob said that  an angel of God appeared to him in a dream, and told him that God was giving Jacob the best of the flock, because He knew how Laban had been mistreating Jacob.  God will always know when we are being mistreated, and He will keep us safe, if not in this world, then in the one to come.  Verse thirteen declares, 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.  God reminded Jacob of Who He was and of Jacob's vow to Him at Bethel and that it was time to act on that vow.  It was time get out of the land he was in and return to where he should be.  No matter how successful we may become in the world, we must never forget our promises to God.