# 287 The Keeper

The Book of Genesis

Day 287

Ge 31:20 And Jacob stole away, unknown to Laban the Syrian, in that he did not tell him that he intended to flee. 21 So he fled with all that he had. He arose and crossed the river, and headed toward the mountains of Gilead.  22 And Laban was told on the third day that Jacob had fled.  23 Then he took his brethren with him and pursued him for seven days' journey, and he overtook him in the mountains of Gilead.  24 But God had come to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said to him, "Be careful that you speak to Jacob neither good nor bad."

Let’s put ourselves in Laban’s shoes here. He has steadily watched his income dwindle in spite of doing everything in his power to exploit Jacob. Whenever he changed the rules, God stayed ahead of him and kept blessing Jacob. We have seen that as a result of this turn of events, Laban’s attitude toward Jacob has become hostile. To put it bluntly, Jacob was costing him money and he was now expendable in Laban’s eyes.

Then word comes to Laban that Jacob had taken Laban’s daughters and fled! So Laban hurries back to the homestead and sure enough Jacob had taken all that he had and fled the coop. (Laban even notices that the household gods were missing as well! (v30) Imagine how furious Laban is at this sudden turn of events! So he takes off in hot pursuit!

Now look at Jacob’s plight’ He’s running toward Esau who at last report had sworn to kill him, and Laban is on his heels with pretty much the same intent. Thankfully, Jacob had the promise of God to cling to that was spoken to him at Bethel in Gen 28:15, “I will keep you wherever you go.” The word “keep” means to guard, to put a hedge around something because it is valuable to you. Jacob is valuable to God, and God has promised to protect him!

And HE does! He appears to Laban in a dream using the same Hebrew word for “keep” in His warning to Laban. In effect God says, “Put a hedge around your intent toward Jacob!” “Put a lid on it and keep your hands off of him and his property!”

Laban got the drift! God means business here and so Laban backed off from his threatening’s.

Aren’t you glad we have a promise keeping God. He says I will keep and He does! He puts a hedge of protection around Jacob and as long as he stays within that hedge, he is safe.

It’s just like Jesus said in Joh 10:28 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.

And as the Holy Spirit reminds us in Jude 1:24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,  25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.

God kept Jacob, He will keep you!