gen 31

Question	Answer	Note---10-02-2016
		31:1-2 Note how the countenance of both Laban and his sons have changed towards Jacob. Just a few years prior, Jacob was the beloved nephew, but now he seems to be the estranged family member.
		31:3 Although 30:26 states that it was Jacob’s idea to leave, this verse seems to contradict that notion. The scripture records that it was the Lord that instructed Jacob to leave.
		31:77 jacob complains that his wages has been changed ten times. Although there is no reference of his wages being changed this often, there is enough evidence to speculate that the ten times might have started with the plot to marry Leah instead of Rachel.
		Maybe the ten times also included switching from rring streaked animals to spotted to wrinkled to brown etc. maybe that was where the greatest wages change took place.
		Although it is not implied in the verse. One can conclude that the word “times” could be referring to years (as in bible prophecy) and not necessarily an instance of time.
		31:13 It seems that God placed great weight upon the vow that Jacob vowed to Him. Now God reminds Jacob of the vow, and it would seem that Jacob is now required to give the tenth that was promised.
Laban lived in the land that  was originally considered a God-centered land. This is the land that Rebecca had originated from, this was the land that Abraham had sent to get a wife for Isaac. How now is idols found in the camp?	Although the people knew God, and God spoke to them in dreams, they were not perfect. They were still influenced by their environment.	31:29-30 It is interesting that Laban had idols Laban lived in the land that was originally considered a God-centered land. This is the land that Rebecca had originated from, this was the land that Abraham had sent to get a wife for Isaac. How now is idols found in the camp?
		It is very interesting that Rachel (the younger) likely the favorite stole her father’s gods. There are several implications of this. It seems that Leah was the wife that was chosen for Jacob by God, and Rachel was the one chosen by Jacob.
		The gods possessed by Laban may have been the ones that were made by him. Thiis may shed some light on the occupation of Abrham’s Father spoken of by Joshua 24:2
		It is interesting that in choosing a wife, Jacob did not consult the Lord. He just saw the damsel and fell for her. 29:18
		Rebecca did not come with any idols but she still came with her little cunning ways.