Genesis 31:5 - Printer Friendly

ESV: and said to them, “I see that your father does not regard me with favor as he did before. But the God of my father has been with me.

NIV: He said to them, 'I see that your father's attitude toward me is not what it was before, but the God of my father has been with me.

NASB: and said to them, 'I see your father’s attitude, that it is not friendly toward me as it was before, but the God of my father has been with me.

CSB: He said to them, "I can see from your father's face that his attitude toward me is not the same as before, but the God of my father has been with me.

NLT: He said to them, 'I have noticed that your father’s attitude toward me has changed. But the God of my father has been with me.

KJV: 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.

NKJV: and said to them, “I see your father’s countenance, that it is not favorable toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me.

The Lord has told Jacob to return to the land of Canaan (Genesis 28:1–5; 31:3). In addition, Laban and his sons have turned against Jacob. The reason for their change in attitude is selfish and cynical. As long as Laban could benefit from repeatedly cheating Jacob, he favored his son-in-law. Now that their most recent deal (Genesis 30:32–36) has turned into a disaster for Laban, and a blessing for Jacob (Genesis 30:37–43), Laban and his sons are not happy. Rather than wait to go home, Jacob calls his wives to meet him in the field in order to make an immediate decision.

Here, Jacob begins to make the case to his two wives for why they must leave now. He starts by telling them something they likely know: You father doesn't like me anymore. Jacob didn't have Laban's favor. In contrast, Jacob points out that the God of his father Isaac continues to be with him. Jacob wants his wives to understand why it makes sense to trust God and to stop depending on their father. Despite their long-running rivalry (Genesis 30:8), these sisters will show a surprising unity in their response to Jacob's words (Genesis 31:14–16).

Genesis 31:1–21 describes the events that propel Jacob to sneak away from Laban and head toward his homeland of Canaan. First, he learns that Laban and his sons are dangerously unhappy with him for taking so many of Laban's profits. Then God commands Jacob to go, promising to be with him. After securing the support of his wives, Jacob packs up his large family and property and sneaks away toward Gilead and then home.

Genesis 31 describes Jacob's difficult separation from Laban, his father-in-law, as well as his boss for twenty years. During that time, Jacob was routinely mistreated and cheated by his master. Commanded by God to return to the land of Canaan, Jacob packs up his wives, children, and all of his possessions and leaves without telling Laban. Laban soon catches up with the large company. Laban and Jacob confront each other bitterly. Eventually, though, they make a covenant of separation and peace.

Genesis 30 described the dramatic expansion of Jacob's family and property. Now, after twenty years of working for Laban, the time comes for Jacob to return to his own people. He attempts to sneak away without telling Laban, but Laban soon catches up with him. After bitter confrontations, father and son-in-law make a covenant of separation and peace. Jacob is finally free to begin the next chapter of his life in the Promised Land. First, though, he will need to deal with his brother Esau, whose rage was the main reason Jacob fled in the first place. That encounter is described over the following two chapters.

The book of Genesis establishes fundamental truths about God. Among these are His role as the Creator, His holiness, His hatred of sin, His love for mankind, and His willingness to provide for our redemption. We learn not only where mankind has come from, but why the world is in its present form. The book also presents the establishment of Israel, God's chosen people. Many of the principles given in other parts of Scripture depend on the basic ideas presented here in the book of Genesis. Within the framework of the Bible, Genesis explains the bare-bones history of the universe leading up to the captivity of Israel in Egypt, setting the stage for the book of Exodus.