31:1-3
At last Jacob manages to leave Laban and head back to Canaan, this was after spending twenty years with Laban. During this time Laban had in various ways been seeking to get as much out of Jacob as he could, and God had been continuing to bless Jacob. So Jacob’s wealth increased, this arose the jealousy of Laban’s sons, and of Laban himself. Previously Laban had had an outwardly friendly attitude towards Jacob, though this was probably just a front. However, Laban’s attitude was now changing. God tells Jacob to return to the land of his fathers, and promised that He would be with him. There is a mixture here of Jacob being moved by events, and being moved by the word of God. We will find that events and the word of the Lord often work together. This is not too surprising as God is in control of events!
31:4-13
In the previous chapter Leah and Rachel regarded each other as rivals, but it seems now that they have accepted the situation and are much more in harmony. Jacob recounts to them a brief history of the last twenty years, of how Laban had tried to take advantage of him, but that God had blessed him. The key point is the changing attitude of Laban towards him. God had appeared to Jacob, and has now told him that it is time to go.
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