For the Genesis 31:51-55 PODCAST, Click Here!
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. ~ Genesis 31:51-55
Today, we conclude our study of Genesis 31 where we have watched God dramatically change Jacob with the truth. In this chapter Jacob has gone from a man afraid of his father-in-law to a man who exuded confidence, primarily because he was now being defined by the truth. When we are being defined by the truth that means that we have come to appreciate what it means to fear the Lord. We are told in the Scriptures, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" and in this passage we see that Jacob was leaving his foolish ways behind because he was now being defined by the wisdom of God.
In v.51-53 of today's passage we read, "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."
Laban spoke of the heap and the pillar as if he they were his idea. Earlier, we were told that it was Jacob who set these up. As we have considered before, Laban pictures for us what it looks like to be one who is defined by the flesh which always wants notoriety and credit. The heaps and the pillar were erected to show where Jacob's allegiance was and Laban was struggling to get to the point where his fear of God determined everything else about him.
The heap and pillar were also placed there to be a witness of the peace that would be shared between Jacob and Laban. This was a picture of the work the Lord Jesus accomplished for us on His cross at Calvary. There would be harmony between Jacob and Laban as long as they didn’t pass beyond the boundaries to harm one another. Should they breech those boundaries, then the account would be judiciously and righteously settled as the violation of their covenant.
Laban spoke of the God of Abraham and Nahor, their common ancestors. Jacob, knowing that idolatry had crept in among Laban's side of the family, swore by the "Fear of his father Isaac." The expressed difference here was to show that for Laban idolatry had crept into his heart thus negatively affecting his worship of God. In Joshua 24:2 we read, "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 was confused about the identity of the one true God and it showed in his choices and words. It is clear from what God had earlier said to Laban on the night before he met up with Jacob that he intended to do harm to Jacob and his family. At a minimum, Laban came with the intent to call down curses on Jacob. And, as always, if we let Him, God will turn our curses into blessings.
In v.54-55 of today's passage we read, "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."
While Laban was a picture of the man of the world, Jacob pictured the Lord Jesus. While Leah pictured the law, Rachel pictured grace. The pillar in this passage was a picture of the cross of the Lord Jesus and the heap pictured the Bible. In this story symmetry is discovered. The usage of two languages, Hebrew and Aramaic, indicates that this witness was meant for all people, Hebrew and Gentile alike. This explains why, for the first time in the Bible, a non-Hebrew word was used. This covenant between Jacob and Laban stands as a reminder to all people that God has offered to sinful man a pact of peace through His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. The only question remains is: Who is humble enough to believe in God's promise?
This story proves that the Bible is a physical, tangible word. Not just a spiritual concept without form. In John 1:14 we read, "And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” The written Word of God, the Bible, points us to the living Word of God, the Lord Jesus Christ. Both, the Lord Jesus and the Bible are the standard by which God will judge all people. The peace that we all long for is found in these two where we discover that restoration and harmony between God and man are realized only through the cross of Christ.
This is the last time in the Bible that Laban is referred to directly. He will be mentioned only two more times, both in Genesis 46 and only in reference to the children of Israel born to Bilhah and Zilpah, not as an individual. In the end, Laban is a picture of most people who know of God but do not know God personally and for themselves. Laban represents the person searching the world for that which won’t satisfy and who so desperately needs to be defined by the one true God.
Today's passage took place in a place known as the Perpetual Fountain which is analogous of the eternal life the Lord Jesus offers to anyone humble enough and willing enough to believe in Him. The bread Laban and Jacob ate together that day was a symbol of the Lord Jesus who is the One who delivers to the repentant sinner this perpetual fountain. He said of Himself, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty."
The Fear of Isaac is one of the more obscure names of God in the Bible. This name is only found in this passage. By using this phrase, Jacob was saying that his father, Isaac, feared God and worshiped Him exclusively. Jacob was right to refer to God as the Fear of Isaac, and Isaac was right to have a holy reverence and godly fear. In Luke 12:5, the Lord Jesus said, "But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after your body has been killed, has authority to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him." In fearing God, Isaac submitted to Him and regarded Him more highly than anyone else.
