💥 God tells Jacob to return to the land of his fathers.

God speaks to Jacob.

Genesis 31

And the LORD said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and to thy kindred; and I will be with thee.

Laban, Jacob's father-in-law, stands in the way so Jacob gathers together his wives and children and possessions and flees secretly, heading back to the land of his father, Isaac.

Laban chases after Jacob when he finds out Jacob had sneaked away.

Rachel, Jacob's wife, has stolen her father's gods, his graven images, and is taking them with her on the trip back to the land of her husband's father.  Jacob does not know Rachael has done this.

Laban catches up with them and confronts them.

Genesis 31

21 So he (Jacob) fled with all that he had; and he rose up, and passed over the river, and set his face toward the mount Gilead.

22 And it was told Laban on the third day that Jacob was fled.

23 And he took his brethren with him, and pursued after him seven days' journey; and they overtook him in the mount Gilead.

24 And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

25 Then Laban overtook Jacob. Now Jacob had pitched his tent in the mount: and Laban with his brethren pitched in the mount of Gilead.

26 And Laban said to Jacob, What hast thou done, that thou hast stolen away unawares to me, and carried away my daughters, as captives taken with the sword? 27 Wherefore didst thou flee away secretly, and steal away from me; and didst not tell me, that I might have sent thee away with mirth, and with songs, with tabret, and with harp? 28  And hast not suffered me to kiss my sons and my daughters? thou hast now done foolishly in so doing.

29 It is in the power of my hand to do you hurt: but the God of your father spake unto me yesternight, saying, Take thou heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad.

30 And now, though thou wouldest needs be gone, because thou sore longedst after thy father's house, yet wherefore hast thou stolen my gods?

Jacob did not know anything about the stealing of Laban's gods.

Jacob pronounces a sentence upon the person who stole Laban's gods.

Jacob said:  Genesis 31:32   With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live:

Laban searched the tents but did not find his gods.

Genesis 31

33 And Laban went into Jacob's tent, and into Leah's tent, and into the two maidservants' tents; but he found them not. Then went he out of Leah's tent, and entered into Rachel's tent.

34 Now Rachel had taken the images, and put them in the camel's furniture, and sat upon them. And Laban searched all the tent, but found them not.

35 And she said to her father, Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise up before thee; for the custom of women is upon me. And he searched, but found not the images.

Jacob has pronounced to Laban a sentence upon the one who has taken the images, but Jacob did not know Rachel had taken the gods when he said,   "With whomsoever thou findest thy gods, let him not live:"

Rachel dies in childbirth upon the journey.  But her son, the baby lives.  He will be the 12th tribe of Israel ... Benjamin.

💥💥💥

Esau, with 400 men, is headed toward Jacob.  Esau vowed to kill Jacob when he last saw Jacob.

💥💥💥💥💥