# 292 The Mizpah Benediction

The Book of Genesis

Day 292

Ge 31:47 Laban called it Jegar Sahadutha, but Jacob called it Galeed.  48 And Laban said, "This heap is a witness between you and me this day." Therefore its name was called Galeed,  49 also Mizpah, because he said, "May the LORD watch between you and me when we are absent one from another.  50 "If you afflict my daughters, or if you take other wives besides my daughters, although no man is with us-see, God is witness between you and me!"  51 Then Laban said to Jacob, "Here is this heap and here is this pillar, which I have placed between you and me.  52 "This heap is a witness, and this pillar is a witness, that I will not pass beyond this heap to you, and you will not pass beyond this heap and this pillar to me, for harm.  53 "The God of Abraham, the God of Nahor, and the God of their father judge between us." And Jacob swore by the Fear of his father Isaac.  54 Then Jacob offered a sacrifice on the mountain, and called his brethren to eat bread. And they ate bread and stayed all night on the mountain.  55 And early in the morning Laban arose, and kissed his sons and daughters and blessed them. Then Laban departed and returned to his place.

Have you ever heard of the Mizpah Benediction? It’s not unusual to hear it intoned by a minister to the congregation at the end of a worship service? It’s a loose quote from Gen 31:49, "May the LORD watch between you and me when we are absent one from another.”  Nice sentiment to be sure!  

“How about a piece of jewelry called the Mizpah pendant?  The pendant is usually circular and broken into two pieces with Gen 31:49 inscribed upon it: “May the LORD watch between you and me when we are absent one from another.”  In the case of the pendant, it’s meant to be the expression of a sentiment between two close friends, siblings, or couples who will be separated and will use this as a prayer for God two watch over them.  Again, nice sentiment.

Both sentiments are worthy prayers, but way out of context in the setting found in our text today: Here, the declaration at Mizpah is an expression of distrust. Laban doesn’t trust Jacob and his relationship with his daughters, and Jacob doesn’t trust Laban because of his track record of deceitful dealings with him.

They have arrived at one of the four highest points in the Promised Land, (as if God needs a high vantage point to see what’s going on in His world) and they both agree that they will have no means to keep an eye on each other to prevent any mischief making so they commend one another to the watchful eye of their God.

Please note the God that Laban swears to, “The God of Abraham,  The God of Nahor (Abraham’s brother, and the God of their father, (Terah) This is not the same God that Jacob swears to because we know this about Terah from  Jos 24:2 And Joshua said to all the people, "Thus says the LORD God of Israel: 'Your fathers, including Terah, the father of Abraham and the father of Nahor, dwelt on the other side of the River in old times; and they served other gods.

Laban, still didn’t get it. Abraham had come to know the one true God, as did his son Isaac, and this is the God to whom Jacob swears! But Laban was still worshiping the gods of Terah!

The difference between gods is an interesting point, but the main thing to remember about this oath is it was not based on friendship as we view the benediction of Mizpah today, rather it was based on a mutual mistrust…..and as we shall see next time, that’s not all bad, because it’s a reminder that we have an all-seeing God. He watches, He knows, and no one on earth is ever going to get away with any misdeeds.