At any rate, Laban tracked down Jacob and his entourage, and there was something of a confrontation. As Jacob defended himself to his father-in-law, he made a statement that is just a bit jolting. In contrast to the household idols that Rachel literally sat upon, Jacob refers to God like this--
If the God of my father, the God of Abraham and the Fear of Isaac, had not been with me, you would surely have sent me away empty-handed. But God has seen my hardship and the toil of my hands, and last night he rebuked you.” (Genesis 31:42)
Jacob refers to God as “The fear of Isaac,” and he uses that same name later in the chapter— “So Jacob took an oath in the name of the Fear of his father Isaac” (Genesis 31:53). There are many names for God in the Bible that emphasize different parts of His character. He is El Shaddai (“God Almighty”), El Elyon (“The Most High God”), Yahweh Yireh (“The Lord will provide”), Yahweh Elohim Israel, (“Lord God of Israel) and a host of others (actually Yahweh Sabbaoth means “Lord of Hosts”).
For Jacob, God is “The Fear of Isaac” or the “fearsome God of Isaac” (NLT). Does Jacob use this name because he wants to throw the fear of God into Laban? Perhaps, but in doing so, Jacob reminds us that God is “greatly to be feared in the council of the holy ones, and awesome above all who are around him” (Psalm 89:7, ESV). Solomon says, “i” (Prov 1:7). Many today see God as something of a Cosmic Grandfather” who just wants us to be happy and has little or no real expectations of us. The Bible makes it clear that God is to be feared as well as loved. He has not been domesticated or made safe. He is still “the fearsome God of Isaac.”
2 comments:
No real father ‘just wants his children to be happy’ he wants them to use their talents to help others find theirs and help them grow them for the good of all under his loving wing. Gods children fear him but are not terrified. . . unless they are doing or thinking of doing something they know is wrong. GOD RULES everywhere all the time. . . (namen?)
‘Earned’ or ‘given miraculously’ by the Lord of man and beast because of favor and the attempts of cheating by the greediness of a idol worshiping “boss” and father in-law. It was his to take and take he did all that was his Jacob did. What I don’t understand is what Rachel thought she was going to do with those idols (melt them down in secret and sell them for what the price of material is worth?) And why did they need to pile up all those stones? And who worked to gathered the stones? And who bore witness to it?
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