Torah Commentary Archives

VaYetze (He Went Out)

Genesis 28:10-32:3

Hosea 12:13-14:9

John 1:43-51

Caution After Experience

Jacob must have breathed a sigh of relief when he finally reached the place he could look over his shoulder and know Esau was not following him. The last days in the camp before he left had been just a bit on the tense side as he kept a close eye on his brother. Now he finds himself far enough away from the source of contention he is able to let his guard down. Just where might Jacob be? We will read that the place he stops to rest he will later call Beit El (House of God). It has been taught this is the modern city of Beit El. I humbly disagree. Here is my reasoning.

Consider Grandfather Abraham is still alive when Jacob is born. In fact, Jacob will be about 15 when Abraham dies. Insert a good grandfather, grandson relationship here and you have nights that Jacob spent hearing the stories told time and time again being passed down for generations to come. What are the chances one of those stories Abraham was telling Jacob was about the day he took father Isaac to the Mountain? Jacob said, “Granddad, I want to see that place, will you take me?' Not a stretch for my imagination.

My point is Jacob knew about the “Shin” of the valleys of Jerusalem. He had stood where Abraham saw a vision of the coming Kingdom. Was it in the same place of the altar Jacob placed a stone then laid his head upon the security of “Yah is revealed”? Is it from one of the same stones of the altar his father had been laid on he also saw into the Heavenly realm?

Wherever it was, Jacob does see into a realm of the heavens and the earth coming together as one. Covenant words are spoken unto him the same as were spoken to his father and grandfather. The covenant made to Adam was now being established in his life.

Jacob left that place the next day on a spiritual high. We even see him making a promise to return to this place. By the way, this promise does not appear to have been fulfilled. Sadly the decision caused major problems for his daughter, Dinah. Insert lesson here of following through on what we promise to Yah. Consequences of not doing so can bring disaster.

In the freshness of the spiritual high he continues his journey and what do you know, he finds a beautiful woman standing at a well. The sight sounds to him like a carbon copy of the stories he had heard from his father and grandfather. This has to be a Yah thing!

The next man Jacob will meet is Uncle Laban. He had no doubt heard about his uncle, but had he been told or did he forget the caution statements concerning him? What could go wrong anyway? Not in the midst of all the spiritual high and favor he was walking in since leaving his brother behind? Jacob let his guard down and what is next? Deception!

Let's bring this one home for a moment. When are we most open to be deceived? Is it when we are fighting through the struggles of life or when all is going well? I think we all know the answer to that one. Too bad Jacob did not have us along to give him counsel, right?

We need to learn a lesson from Jacob and learn it well. Deception is a part of this life. We have a real enemy who seeks to destroy us. Just in case you are feeling these statements are not applicable to you please read 1Corinthians 10:12, “Therefore, let anyone who thinks he is standing up be careful not to fall!” If the enemy cannot destroy he will seek to at the very least deceive us. Deception takes our eyes off the goal of His kingdom and places it on our kingdom. This can result in slavery and bondage to people and systems which is what Jacob experienced with Laban.

We are going to wrap this all up. In the end, the story ends up just fine, right? Jacob has a couple of wives, a couple of concubines and a growing family. What could possibly be better? How about one wife, a growing family minus a rivalry between wives, concubines and siblings? My, how the story could be different without so many players fighting for position!

What is the moral of the story? In the midst of spiritual high points, never let your guard down. The enemy always has a Laban just over the next hill waiting to give us a great deal!