Household Gods - Genesis 31:17-35

Bible Study Lesson for April 28

The story of Jacob’s exile in Paddan-Aram began in Genesis 29 and concludes in Genesis 31. Walter Brueggemann organizes this story into a “Pattern of Inversion” or a story where the characters end up in the opposite place from where they began. Jacob is introduced to Laban as an “empty-handed refugee” (29:1-30), and he leaves with an abundance of possessions, and the power and authority that comes with wealth (30:25-55). Rachel’s reversal is even more dramatic. In 29:31, Rachel is identified as barren. As we have seen, the climactic moment of Genesis 30 is the birth of her son Joseph and Rachel’s rejoicing (30:22-24). In the midst of this grand story of reversals is the statement, “Then God remembered.” Throughout the story of Jacob in Paddan-Aram, things happen, people scheme and succeed and fail, but at key moments these schemers and strivers recognize that God has been at work.

As Jacob begins to depart from Laban’s territory, we get the sense that things have gone from bad to worse in their relationship. Having grown his flock at Laban’s expense and despite Laban’s attempts to short-change him, Jacob decides to take his family and his flocks and leave while Laban is away shearing his sheep. In the midst of Jacob’s flight, we discover a surprising element: Rachel steals her father’s household gods. These would have both a sentimental and religious significance. The story does not condemn Rachel for taking the household gods, which we might expect either on the grounds of idolatry or theft. Rather, the point seems to be a comparison between these gods and the Lord, the God of Jacob’s father.

In the Genesis story, the Lord is presented as a God who calls, protects, blesses, and leads. By contrast, the household gods of Laban are stationary and helpless, vulnerable to theft. Rachel takes them and hides them from her father. There is certainly a heightening of the tension in Jacob’s protest: “But anyone with whom you find your gods shall not live.” As readers, we know that Jacob has unknowingly threatened his favorite wife. And as we watch Laban search, he leaves Rachel’s tent for last. Finally, Rachel craftily saves herself when she hides the household gods under her saddle and sits on them. She claims that she cannot rise for her father because “the way of women is upon” her (v. 35). This final indignity saves Rachel; the gods are not found and therefore she can live.

In other stories in the Old Testament, we see that the God of Israel cannot be stolen in this way. When the Philistines take the Ark of the Covenant in 1 Samuel 5, God triumphs over their idol Dagon, overturning and originally breaking the statue of Dagon in their temple and then inflicting the Philistines with tumors. When the Philistines hitch the Ark to a cart led by cattle whose calves have not been weaned, the cows go straight back into the land of Israel, leaving their bleating calves behind them. The Lord is capable of self-defense, whereas idols are merely passive objects of devotion that must be protected and preserved.

What do we put our trust in? When we read the Old Testament, I think one of the things that seems most different from our own world is how idol-saturated that world is. Idols and cult objects of various religions are everywhere. John Calvin famously said that the human heart is an “idol factory.” We have to be aware that in our culture idolatry is far sneakier and more subtle than it was in Old Testament times. We do not worship statues of metal and wood, but we do put our trust in things that we ultimately have to protect. Today we worship a variety of things, including money, guns, and technology.

Money’s idolatrous role is nothing new. Jesus called it Mammon and said that we need to be aware that we cannot serve both God and money. Money is particularly dangerous because we can’t get away from the need for it. We have to use it responsibly. But so many people in today’s world, and indeed even in the church, see life as primarily a pursuit of monetary gain. Money represents security, leisure, hope for tomorrow. We have to reflect on our attitudes about money and put it back in its proper place.

Other forms of security also take our consciousness captive. Often in our discussions of safety, guns take on an almost religious significance. We are told of the heroic potential of a “good guy with a gun.” And yet, in America, there are more guns than people, and a higher per capita rate of gun violence than any other developed country. Guns do not bring us safety or security and they cannot deliver on a promise or a hope to bring us to a better future.

Technology has taken its place among our idols in the past hundred years. From the invention of the tractor and industrialization, to computers and smart phones, every year seems to bring a new wave of devices that claim that they will make our lives better. We hope our technology will make us more productive so we can work more efficiently and for longer hours. Ultimately, however, it rewires our brains and gives new harmful priorities. Instead of a balanced life of work and rest, production and play, technology teaches us more is better. And every year a new and improved model comes out. We must have the newest and best thing, and we think we will be happy, or at least satisfied, but we never are.

All these modern idols distract us from the God who truly holds our security, our safety, and our productivity. As Jacob was quick to point out, and even Laban had to admit, success comes from the God of Abraham. When we follow the call of God, no one and nothing can ultimately stand in our way. God does not find a place among our idols, God rules and reigns over them. When we put God in the proper role in our lives, all these other things will find a their new, appropriate place. Some will be rejected and cast aside, and others will be important, but will serve God’s ends in our lives. This is what repentance looks like: re-prioritizing things like safety and security to come after God. And like Jacob, in putting God first and answering God’s call, we will find ourselves going home.