"And Jacob deceived Laban the Aramean by not telling him that he was fleeing. So he fled with all that he had; and he arose and crossed the Euphrates River, and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead. (vv.20-21)
Back in chapter 30 we saw that Jacob, after seven years of working for Rachel, wanted to take his family of 11 sons and a daughter and leave for the land of promise. However Laban talked him into working for cattle, goats, and sheep in a unique business arrangement conceived by Jacob. Jacob’s herds increased under this arrangement and he grew a huge herd of cattle, goats, and sheep. So much so that he had to hire help.
Now here in chapter 31, when Jacob heard Laban’s sons speaking ill of him, and when he saw that Laban’s attitude was not friendly towards him now, and when the Lord spoke to him and told him to return to the land of his fathers and relatives, he called Rachel and Leah in form the field (vv.1-4).
Jacob, realizing that Rachel and Leah may not really know all that had gone on between him and Laban, explains the many ways in which Laban had deceived him and profited from his hard and sacrificial labor (vv.6-12). He then tells them that the Lord had spoken to him and told him that he needed to leave and return back to the land of Canaan (v.13).
Rachel and Leah tell Jacob that they have no inheritance with their father and that the wealth God has allowed Jacob to have now belongs to them and their children. Then they say to Jacob, “do whatever God has told you to do” (vv.14-16). So Jacob, “fled with all that he had; and he arose and crossed the Euphrates River, and set his face toward the hill country of Gilead (v.21).
By not telling Laban that he was fleeing, Jacob robbed him of any chance to say goodbye to any of his descendants (whom he would never see again after this chapter). Jacob had no reason to fear that Laban would prevent his departure, as the Lord proved with His message of protection when He appeared to Laban in a dream (v.24). By leaving in secret, Jacob did the right thing in the wrong way.
We should never feel ashamed or afraid of doing God's will. When we find ourselves in a hostile situation, we should ask God for the conviction to do the right thing, the courage to do it openly, and the humility to do it in a way that glorifies God rather than ourselves. If the Lord wants us to take a certain action, He will certainly make it possible for us to succeed.
The Truth: “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean to your own understanding.” (Proverbs 3:5)
