The Pillar of Division: Genesis 31:43-55

God doesn’t want us to be doormats, but God does tell us, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”  We are never called to be taken advantage of, but we are called to restore relationships.  In Jesus, we see sacrificial love.  In God, we see a being ready to forgive and welcome people back even when they don’t deserve it.

Laban wilts underneath Jacob’s anger.  We cannot know whether Laban backs down because he doesn’t know how to deal with Jacob’s anger, because he isn’t used to people challenging him, because he doesn’t want to continue the conflict, or because he realizes Jacob is right about most of what he said.  We do know Laban doesn’t offer up any resistance to Jacob’s argument.

That doesn’t mean Jacob was right in his expression of anger.  Jacob’s anger helps Rachel get away with theft.  Furthermore, Laban doesn’t become submissive to Jacob’s ire; Laban gets defensive.  Jacob’s anger doesn’t resolve anything; it exacerbates the situation.

In response, Laban offers a covenant to Jacob.  Often, when we hear the word covenant we assume it is good.  Here, we get a different picture.  Laban wants a covenant for property division.  Laban and Jacob erect a stone pillar to indicate that neither person will cross the border for harm.  Laban knows the two men must part ways because they can no longer bear each other’s presence.  In fact, the relationship is so strained both parties expect retribution.  They make a stone pillar to indicate the limit their anger can bring them!

Furthermore, Laban speaks about Jacob as a husband.  In making a point of reminding Jacob he won’t be able to supervise how Jacob treats his daughters, he reminds Jacob God will supervise his actions.  If Jacob oppresses or ignores his daughters, God will see.  The only reason for Laban to make such a claim is because he expects the worst from Jacob.

Jacob agrees to the boundary, makes a sacrifice, and invites the gathered kinsmen to partake.  He seals the covenant.  The relationship remains strained and broken.

Be careful here.  The strain in the relationship is not necessarily Jacob’s fault.  Laban tricked Jacob at every turn.  Laban proved himself a schemer.  Laban behaved in an untrustworthy manner and his character is at the core of the brokenness in the relationship.  The blame belongs on Laban’s shoulders, not Jacob’s shoulders.

Jacob is responsible for not doing his part to repair the relationship. Jacob’s anger keeps the broken relationship broken.  There’s no guarantee the relationship could be repaired.  There’s no guarantee the relationship should be repaired, even!  But when Jacob responds out of his anger, he guarantees the relationship won’t be repaired. 

That’s the point of this story.  Jacob’s irritation is understandable.  Yet, Jacob’s irritation also fails to promote peace.  When Jacob chooses to speak out in anger, he leaves all opportunity to be a peacemaker behind.  God doesn’t want us to be doormats, but God does tell us, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”