31 – Evil Influences
Dear family and friends, in Genesis Chapter 31, we discuss what it was like for evil to pursue Jacob. Scattered along life’s pathway are many evil influences. We are surrounded by hostile forces constantly sniping at the righteous. Wickedness is ALWAYS present to challenge those trying to live righteously. Malevolence is present to capture our thoughts, invade our interests, entice us, promote wrong-doing, and persuade the righteous into corrupt living. Many brands masquerade among us, encouraging sinful behavior. Evil has integrated little by little into our families, marriages, friends, Houses of Worship, political associations, and society, seeking a crack to slither in. (Sukkah 52b) says, ‘R. Huna pointed out an incongruity: It is written, For the spirit of harlotry hath caused them to err. It is written, [For the spirit of harlotry] is within them. First, it only causes them to err, but it ultimately enters them. Raba observed, First he is called a passer-by, then called a guest, and finally he is called a man [of the house].’
We learned from our studies that Laban was evil. (Genesis 31.29) says, ‘It is in the power of my hand to hurt you, but the God of your father [Issac] spoke to me last night, saying,’ “Take heed that you do not speak to Jacob either good or bad.” However, we may not be aware that our patriarch Jacob had a few flaws. Yet regardless, Isaiah 60.18 – [KJV 60:21]) says, ‘Your people/nation are ALL RIGHTEOUS; they shall inherit the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I may be glorified.’ So, in other words, (Genesis 29.12) says, ‘Jacob told Rachel that he was her father’s [Laban’s] brother and that he was [her aunt] Rebekah’s son.’ That may not make sense to us without The Talmud’s explanation. (Psalms 28.25-27) says, ‘The Lord Recompenses me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his eyesight. With the merciful [we show ourselves to be] merciful; with an upright man [we show ourselves to be] upright; With the pure [we show ourselves to be] pure; and with the perverse [we show ourselves to be] subtle, – clever, cunning, crafty, wily, artful, devious.’ (Megila 13b) explains, If Laban chooses to deceive me, I am prepared because I am his brother in deceit. If Laban decides to be honorable, then I am the son of his righteous sister, my mother, you’re aunt Rebekah. I will reciprocate accordingly. There are other instances throughout (Genesis 31) where we see Jacob living in accordance with Ha Torah (Exodus 21.24) – ‘an eye for an eye.’ (Bereisheit Rabba 70.15) shares Jacob’s his terms with Laban. Jacob said to Laban I will serve you seven years for Rachel you’re younger daughter, not for Leah. YOUR DAUGHTER: – you shall not to bring another woman named Rachel; YOUNGER: -You shall not exchange their names. But even if you fix a wicked man in a carpenter’s vice, it will avail you nought. Laban responded: It Is better that I give her to you. So Jacob served [Laban] seven years for Rachel and they seem to Jacob like Just a few days. R. Hanina b. Pazzi said: ‘A few’ is mentioned here and elsewhere. (Genesis 27.44) says, ‘And tarry with him a few days.’ There it means seven years, and there it means seven years.
Isaac and Laban are the grandfathers of the twelve sons and one daughter of Israel/Jacob. We know that Rebekah was the patriarchal grandmother of the twelve sons and one daughter, the sons of Israel. Adinah, the wife of Laban, bore two daughters, Leah the elder and Rachel the younger. Sefer HaYashar (Hoboken, NJ: KTAV Publishing House, Inc., 1993) p.76. Leah was the patriarchal mother of Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, and daughter Dinah. Rachel bore Joseph and Benjamin. We do not know the matriarchal mother of Bilhah or Zilpah, the maidservant wives of Jacob.Bilhah bore Dan and Naphtali and Zilpah bore Gad and Asher. What would we find if we were to trace our heritage back to Laban’s wife? Would we be able to prove that we are Jewish using orthodox standards?
The point is that wickedness and evil are woven into our heritage of righteousness. We are a holy people with a past. Still, Jacob believed God would continue to defend him and his family from all the challenges they would face. It was evident that Laban was not trustworthy! Jacob put his faith in God! He realized that God was the determining factor in every event in life. Jacob acknowledged that God had protected him in previous perils. Jacob’s faith was in God, not in people. That should be our goal. We should do our best to place our trust in The Lord.
The righteous Isaac and the evil Laban are the grandfathers of The Children of Israel.
Has anyone experienced a bad business relationship with a close relative? What is it like to be cheated and deceived by a close relative? Our discussion is not about an unfortunate misunderstanding between Jacob and Laban. Our focus is on Laban planning in advance to deliberately scam Jacob. Laban never intended to make good on his agreement with Jacob. Laban and his sons were big-time professional conmen. The Lord God Testified regarding all the dishonest acts of Laban. Jacob was afraid of Laban because he had a history of being a wicked, vile man. That is why Jacob took all that he owned and fled from Laban.
Holy Scripture begins Jacobs’s departure from Laban and his brothers-in-law with several derogatory comments, Followed by a comment on Laban’s facial expressions. Why does Holy Scripture point to the human side of Jacobs’s departure first instead of what The Lord had to say?
(Genesis 31.1 – 3) says, ‘Jacob heard the words of Laban’s sons. Their words were angry and judgmental. Laban’s countenance was not favorable towards Jacob as it had been. The Lord instructs Jacob to return to the land of his fathers.’
Rebecca’s nurse, Deborah, brought a personal message from his mother, ‘Return home, son.’
(Genesis 31.4 – 7) informs us that Jacob consults with his wives. ‘And Jacob sent and called Rachel and Leah to the field to his flock, And said to them, I see your father’s countenance, that it is not toward me as before; but the God of my father has been with me. And you know that with all my power, I have served your father. And your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me.
(Genesis 31.9) says, ‘God has taken away the cattle of your father and given them to me.’
(Genesis 31.11) [Jacob said to Rachel and Leah], ‘the Angel of God spoke to me in a dream.’ (Genesis 31.13) [God said to Jacob,] ‘I am the God of Beth-El, where you anointed the pillar and vowed a vow to Me; now arise, get out from this land, and return to the land of your family.’
Genesis 31.14 – 16
And Rachel and Leah answered and said to [Jacob], ‘Is there any share or inheritance for us in our father’s house? Are we not counted by him as strangers? For he has sold us and has entirely devoured also our money. For all the riches which God has taken from our father, that is ours, and our children’s; now then, whatever God has said to you, do it.’
After living 22 years with the wicked Laban, what would you do? The day of fleeing had been a long time in coming. (Genesis 31.17 – 18) says, ‘Then Jacob arose, and set his sons and his wives upon camels; And he carried away all his cattle, and all his goods which he had acquired, the animals of his getting, which he had acquired in Padan-Aram, to go to Isaac, his father in the land of Canaan.’
(Genesis 31.20 -21) says, ‘ And Jacob outwitted Laban the Aramean, in that he did not tell him that he fled. And he fled with all that he had; and he rose, passed over the river, and set his face toward the Mount Gilead.’ On the third day, Laban was informed that Jacob had fled. Laban and his relatives begin an immediate pursuit. Jacob is overtaken by evil, i.e., The wicked Laban and his evil band of relatives. The fireworks begin! Specific points are established in the Torah, like Jacob is a righteous man and Laban is a wicked man. When the Torah mentions the brothers of Leah and Rachel, they are described as the sons of Laban instead of the bother-in-law of Jacob.
Notice that the Torah associates Isaac with God. Jacob is the son of that man who is known to have acknowledged God. Laban identifies God as the God of your father, the God of Isaac. Laban does not say our God came to visit me last night. Laban draws a distinction that excludes God from being his God. God is righteous. Isaac and Jacob are known to be virtuous, so they are identified with God. They are connected with God. People associate Isaac and Jacob with a righteous God. Laban does not choose to identify with God. What is the point? Let’s return to the following few verses to observe how the Torah associates Jacob, Rachel, and Leah with God and righteous living.
(Genesis 31.26 – 31) says, ‘And Laban said to Jacob, What have you done, that you have stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword? Why did you flee away secretly and steal away from me; and did not tell me that I might have sent you away with mirth, songs, a tambourine, and harp? And why did you not let me kiss my sons and my daughters? Now you have done foolishly in so doing. It is in the power of my hand to hurt you, but the God of your father spoke to me last night, saying, Take heed that you speak not to Jacob either good or bad. And now, that you are surely gone because you so long after your father’s house, why have you stolen my gods?’
And Jacob answered and said to Laban, ‘Because I was afraid; for I said, Perhaps you would take by force your daughters from me.’ – Jacob had good cause to be afraid in addition to Laban’s wickedness. Anyone in a relationship with a personality like Laban would be frightened. The Laban personality is dominating, controlling, and consuming! A man like Laban sucks all the air out of the room. Laban frightened him! Jacob was afraid for his wives and children. Even though two of his sons, Simon and Levi, would decimate Shechem, Jacob was worried! Do we need to ask why Jacob was afraid? When Jacob was preparing to flee, we read of Jacob’s complaints about Laban’s out-of-control personality, then it all comes out.
(Genesis 31.7 – 9) Jacob told Rachel and Leah, ‘Your father has deceived me and changed my wages ten times, but God did not allow him to hurt me. If he said thus, The speckled should be your wages; then all the cattle bore speckled; and if he said thus, The striped should be your hire; then all the cattle bore striped. Thus God has taken away the cattle of your father and given them to me. All of us have had interaction with the Laban types in our world. It is usually best to avoid them and not make agreements with them. Why invite problems into our lives! The laws of our country tie people who associate with criminals together. Our courts prosecute people just because of their associations. That is one reason why I associate with politically conservative individuals. I supported former President Trump and his lovely wife, the former first lady Melania. President Trump has every right to defend his honor. Ha Torah Teaches that all life is precious. The lives of the unborn are precious! The lives of black, brown, yellow, red, and white people are precious! The lives of straight, gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender single, or married are equally precious! Bible believing people do not agree with how they live yet, one of our goals is to be loving and kind to others. The police are special! We need them. The people of Israel are God’s chosen people. Jews are precious to God! Every people of every nation and every land are special to God! Observing the Torah of the Lord is important to God!
Who and what we associate with is important! The Torah does not support immoral actions! God supports husbands, wives, and families. God supports righteous justice! That means judges should live and consistently follow righteousness. That means police officers should be just to everyone equally. Our moral obligation is to eliminate immorality by living holy, pure lives while encouraging others to do the same.
Dear Ones, may this Sabbath and every Sabbath be a blessed Day. May we also have a wonderful time counting the Omer.
Good Sabbath!
Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk – Your Friend, ‘George’
