God works through sinful people too

Read: Genesis 31:1-35

Yesterday, you’ve read that Jacob has become wealthy at Laban’s expense. Of course, none of this was too pleasing for Laban and his sons, and Jacob knew that. For twenty years he slaved under his boss and father-in-law’s yoke, but God blessed him, and finally he calls Jacob out of Mesopotamia and sends him back to Isaac. So Jacob took all that was his... except Rachel went further and stole Laban’s household gods, and they fled.

Why on God’s green earth would Rachel do that? In verses 10-16, Jacob made known to her and Leah about God, and she even told Jacob to “do whatever God has told you.” So why steal household gods? In those days, much like many Chinese households today, you see household gods which were there to ensure peace and blessings in your family. In ancient Mesopotamia, where Laban was from, household gods were passed down to the eldest son as a matter of a birthright. Note the parallel between Jacob stealing Esau’s birthright! Yes – just as Jacob stole Esau’s birthright, so did Rachel steal her oldest brother’s birthright.

There is an ethical question that you might be asking. This story was full of people cheating each other. So far, Jacob seemed to be some great trickster, fooling his dad to give him the birthright, sneaking away from Laban without his permission. Laban was tricksy as well. That bit in verse 27 about sending them away with joy and singing to music? That was all a lie – Laban would’ve forced Jacob to stay as his near-slave instead of sending him off back to Canaan! And, true to her father and her husband’s deceptive ways, Rachel steals the household gods, hides it, and fools her dad into not checking what she’s sitting on. Lies, lies, lies! And what does God do? Nothing?

The Biblical narratives show that God works his will regardless of whether we follow it or not. Thus, even though Jacob is such a dishonest prick, God still – in accordance to His promises to Abraham and Isaac – continued to be with and protect Jacob. Isn’t this good news for us, that God still works through us even though we are sinful people?
Nonetheless, sin has its consequences. Jacob didn’t know that Rachel stole her dad’s household gods, so he bravely declared that death will come to whoever has them. Rachel, unfortunately, passed away not long after his arrival to Canaan a few chapters later. Nonetheless, God still works through us despite our sins. Maybe you are withholding yourself from church, from spending time with God, from discipleship groups, etc., because “Oh, God can’t use someone as sinful as me. He should just use someone more holy… like the Doulos people.” First, be assured that the Doulos people are no holier than you are. Secondly, spend time in quiet reflection. Are some of your sins holding you back from letting God do great things through you? Unlike Jacob and Rachel, let us spend some time confessing our sins to God. They can be dishonest people, but we are called to be the opposite. Let us, therefore, be honest to God and open ourselves up to him