Mankind was created to worship. For those raised in a secular environment separated from the things of God, they find other things to worship instead of God. By marrying Jacob, Rachel had joined herself to the blessing which God had passed down from Abraham and Isaac to Jacob’s heirs. Those she was returning to the land promised by God, she carried in her heart, head, and hands the idols she had grown accustomed to worshiping in her father’s house. Though the blessings of worshipping the One True God lay ahead of her, we see in this passage a willingness to do “whatever it takes” to keep her idols.
1. She was willing to steal.
Gen. 31:19-20 “And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images that were her father’s. And Jacob stole away unawares to Laban the Syrian, in that he told him not that he fled.”
2. She was willing to die.
V30, 32, 34-35 (After Laban has pursued Jacob and confronted him about taking his idols) “And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?”
(Jacob replied) “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.”
3. She was willing to lie.
“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. 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.”
LESSON - If there is something in your life that you would be willing to steal for it, lie for it, and die for it, that by definition is your idol. You have just identified the thing in your life which has supplanted God’s right full place in your heart, mind, and hands. If after careful consideration you are able to identify idols in your life, you must come to the realization that you are no longer living for the Lord but living for yourself. You need to repent and put away your idols! God’s ultimate promise land awaits you and it will far surpass any pleasure your idols can bring.
~Mike
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