Faith Over Fear
It's important to trust God when we are afraid.
Genesis(69) (Part of the Origins(67) series)
by Stuart Johns(76) on April 26, 2026 (Sunday Morning(99))
Honesty(2), Sovereignty(10), Trust(12), Worship(9)
Origins
Faith Over Fear
(Genesis 31:22-35)
INTRODUCTION
“In 2008, New York Magazine ran a comprehensive article about research concerning kids and lying. In one study researchers gathered a group of children together and read them a version of The Boy Who Cried Wolf where the little boy is eaten by the wolf because he lies. In a survey of adults taken before the study, most thought the negative consequences in The Boy Who Cried Wolf would lead the children to be more honest in controlled experiments on honesty and deceit. However, after hearing the story, researchers observed that the children continued their usual rate of lying. Researchers then taught the story of George Washington and the cherry tree. In the story George goes to his father and confesses he cut down the tree. His father replies, ‘Hearing you tell the truth instead of a lie is better than if I had a thousand cherry trees.’ Researchers found that the story of George Washington and the cherry tree reduced lying by 43 percent. [#1 – Young people, which story reduced lying in children? (George Washington and the cherry tree)] They concluded that the threat of punishment simply teaches children to learn how to lie better. When children learn the worth of honesty, as they did in the story of George Washington, they lie less.
In a study of teenagers regarding degrees of honesty and deceit, researchers found that most parents believe being permissive will encourage openness and honesty from their kids. Parents of teenagers would rather be informed than strict and ‘in the dark.’ However, researchers discovered a ‘no rules’ policy simply doesn't work. One researcher noted: ‘Kids who go wild and get in trouble…have parents who don't set rules or standards. Their parents are loving and accepting no matter what the kids do, but the kids take the lack of rules as a sign their parents don't care—that their parent doesn't really want [the] job of being the parent… Ironically, the type of parents who are actually most consistent in enforcing rules are the same parents who are most warm and have the most conversations with their kids.’ Though some rules result in arguments between parents and teens, only 23 percent of the teenagers surveyed considered these conflicts harmful to their relationship with their parents.
In a final study, adults were asked to disclose the worst lie they ever told. Surprisingly, many adults disclosed minor childhood lies. Researcher Dr. Bella DePaulo of the University of California, Santa Barbara, comments: ‘I had to reframe my understanding to consider what it must have been like as a child to have told this lie. For young kids, their lie challenged their self-concept that they were a good child and that they did the right thing.’ Lies told during childhood affected their behavior later on. If they got caught and felt bad, they vowed never to do it again. But if they were good at it and got away with it, they would lie more often into their teens and adulthood."
Source: Po Bronson, "Learning To Lie," New York Magazine (2-10-08).
[https://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/preaching/sermon-illustrations/research-on-honesty-and-deceit/].
BODY
ME
Returning money
Several weeks ago, Judy and I were shopping at the grocery store
When the cashier gave us our change we paused for a moment and counted the money
We realized that the cashier had given us too much money back
So, we quickly handed him the extra money before we left the store
The cashier was grateful!
Understanding
Having worked in the fast food industry and the banking industry, I understand the stress involved with having a short till
I have had to go through every transaction to determine where the error happened
WE
How many of us have been honest with a cashier when they have given us too much change?
How many of us have experienced that honesty is the best policy?
Jacob had left the service of Laban while he was away shearing his sheep and Rachel had stolen his household gods. As we will see today, Laban pursued them and confronted Jacob about leaving deceptively and about his household gods being stolen. Fear was probably the motivating factor behind why Jacob left without saying goodbye and why Rachel had stolen her father’s household gods. Fear can be a powerful motivator for good or evil. Neither, Jacob or Rachel trusted God with their fear. We can learn from their example that…
BIG IDEA – It’s important to trust God when we are afraid.
Let’s pray
GOD (Genesis 31:22-35)
Pursued (vv. 22-24)
Timeframe
Laban was informed on the third day that Jacob had fled
Laban was probably not informed immediately, because he had gone to shear his sheep
Laban presumably had two separate flocks of sheep
One group was the flock that Jacob took care of (Gen. 30:36b) and would have been close to where Laban lived
The other flock was a three-day’s journey away with his sons (Gen. 30:35)
So, perhaps Laban was shearing the sheep that were with his sons – 3 days away
Laban probably took the men from his whole clan with him as he pursued Jacob’s family
Understanding the distance and number of days
Most scholars agree that the number of days – 3 and 7 – are probably used figuratively, because of the distance Jacob had traveled
Most commentaries put the distance from Haran to the hill country of Gilead at about 300 miles [show map]
[#2 – Young people, how many miles was Haran from the hill country of Gilead? (300)]
Most caravans would have traveled around 10 miles per day, meaning that it would have taken Jacob’s family 30 days to go 300 miles
Laban would not have been encumbered by flocks, herds, women, and children, so he could have probably traveled around 20 miles per day, meaning it would have taken him 15 days to travel 300 miles
Perhaps Laban took several days to pack supplies and gather his relatives before leaving
“The only conceivable solution that explains Laban’s not catching up to Jacob before the area of Gilead is to assume that it takes Laban a week or ten days to prepare for the trip before he can set out and that he cannot travel very fast (after all, he is over 150 years old now).” [Walton, The NIV Application Commentary, Genesis, 591]
Whether the timeframe was literal or figurative, we know that Laban caught up with Jacob in the hill country of Gilead
God’s warning
God is all-knowing (omniscient), so he knew what was in Laban’s heart concerning Jacob
That was why He came to Laban in a dream and warned him to be careful not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad
My guess is that Laban was planning to use more than just his words with Jacob
Laban’s attitude toward Jacob had already soured because of Jacob’s prosperity from his flocks
PRINCIPLE #1 – In His sovereignty, God fights for us and protects us.
That was exactly what God did for Jacob, even though he did not know anything about it, at first
“It is an echo of God’s promise to Jacob at Bethel, ‘I will watch [sāmar] over you’ (28:15; cf. v. 20).” [Mathews, The New American Commentary, Vol. 1B, Genesis 11:27-50:26, 523]
God does the same thing for us, even though we may not know anything about it, at first
Because God is all-knowing, He is aware of the heart attitudes of those in our sphere of influence
He knows whether their intentions are good or bad, violent or peaceful, and hurtful or helpful
Because God is sovereign He is able to intercede on our behalf to protect us and fight for us
We may never know all of the times He has fought for us and protected us
“Belief in the providence of God reminds us that the entire world and our individual lives are not determined by chance or fate but by God and his purposes, often being worked out behind the scenes.” [Gangel & Bramer, Holman Old Testament Commentary, Genesis, 170]
We can worship Him for the times we are aware of His protection
#1 – My Next Step Today Is To: Worship the Lord for going to battle for me and protecting me from ________.
Laban and Jacob were now together in the hill country of Gilead, so the next morning Laban confronted Jacob
Confronted (v. 25-30)
Deception
Both groups camped in the hill country of Gilead
Questions
What have you done?
Laban accused Jacob of deceiving him
That was exactly what the narrator told us in Genesis 31:20
Jacob had chosen the best time to leave, knowing that Laban would not find out for at least three days
Laban was unaware that his daughters were agreeable to Jacob’s plan to leave (Gen. 31:14-16)
They knew that they would not receive any inheritance from their father’s estate
They felt like their father regarded them as foreigners
They were not particularly excited about how their father had used them as bargaining chips
They were definitely not carried away like captives in war
Why did you run off secretly and deceive me?
Laban’s accusation was certainly true
Jacob had left secretly without telling Laban
Why didn’t you tell me, so I could send you away with joy and singing to the music of tambourines and harps? [#3 – Young people, how did Laban want to send Jacob and his family away? (with joy and singing)]
This was not Laban’s initial reaction when Jacob first asked to be sent on his way with his wives and children (Genesis 30:25-26)
Laban begged Jacob to stay and asked him to continue to tend his flocks, because the Lord had blessed him through Jacob (Genesis 30:27-28)
If the Lord had to warn Laban in a dream about his heart attitude toward Jacob, then my guess is that Laban would not have sent Jacob away with joy and singing
Laban may not have been the loving and caring father and grandfather that he was portraying himself to be, at this point
He accused Jacob of not letting him kiss his grandchildren and daughters and yet…
As we saw in Genesis 31:15, Laban’s daughters felt like their father regarded them as foreigners
It did not appear as though Laban was the kind of father and grandfather that was affectionate toward his daughters and grandchildren
You have done a foolish thing
As we will see with Jacob’s defense, he was afraid of what Laban would do if he told him that he was leaving
Fear can cause us to do foolish things
Fear of confrontation can cause us to flee instead of talking things out
Instead of talking with Laban, Jacob left Haran secretly, without telling Laban
Have you ever left a situation secretly out of fear? (family gathering, job, meeting, class, relationship, neighborhood, etc.)
When we leave secretly, the problem is never resolved, it continues whether we are there or not
It’s important to trust God when we are afraid.
He will give us the strength to talk things out
He will give us the wisdom to know the right words to say
He is the only One who can bring resolution and restoration to the situation
#2 – My Next Step Today Is To: Trust God to help me talk out a situation with ________ (name), even though I am afraid.
Jacob knew that it was foolish for him to leave secretly, but he did it because he was afraid
After Laban questioned Jacob, he made a statement about the power he thought he had
Laban’s statement about having the power to harm Jacob was perhaps an indication of his actual intention when he caught up with Jacob
This again helps us understand that Laban may not have been the loving and caring person he tried to portray himself as, which is why Jacob was afraid to tell him that he was leaving
God is all-powerful (omnipotent)
Laban shared with Jacob that the God of his father had come to him during the night and warned him not to say anything to Jacob, either good or bad
God helped Laban realize that he did not have the power, that he thought he had, to harm Jacob
“…he [Laban] has as much power as God allows.” [Waltke, Genesis: A Commentary, 429]
God fought for Jacob and protected him from potential harm
PRINCIPLE #1 – In His sovereignty, God fights for us and protects us.
Laban acknowledged and submitted to God’s will for Jacob
He stated that Jacob longed to return to his father’s house
Jacob certainly longed for that, but it was the Lord who commanded him to return to Canaan
Jacob was the chosen covenant carrier, so the Lord needed him to be in Canaan, in the Promised Land, in order to fulfill His ultimate plan and purpose to send Jesus to earth to redeem all creation
Laban had one more accusation to level against Jacob
Theft
Laban understood Jacob’s desire to return home, but why did Jacob steal his gods?
These gods were really important to Laban
“The effigies would be really important to him as a means of gaining supernatural guidance.” [Goldingay, Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Pentateuch, Genesis, 497]
Laban relied on these gods to help him make decisions about his flocks, herds, fields, relationships, etc.
These idols were not real – they were made of wood, clay, metal, or stone
So, they had no power to guide Laban at all – they were not alive
Laban knew that he had been blessed because of the One true God’s presence with Jacob, but he still relied on his own gods
Laban was afraid that without his gods he would be lost
It’s sad to realize that Laban had not been transformed by the God of Jacob’s father, the One true God, during the 20 years that Jacob had served him
Laban did not have to fear, if he had trusted God
It’s important to trust God when we are afraid.
Instead, Laban’s fear motivated him to pursue Jacob, so that he could retrieve his gods
Perhaps he was going to allow fear to cause him to do something foolish, like harm Jacob
Laban accepted Jacob’s desire to return to his homeland, but he did not understand why he needed to steal his household gods and take them with him
After Laban brought his accusations against Jacob, Jacob addressed those accusations
Defended (vv. 31-32)
Deception
When confronted, Jacob was honest with Laban
He was afraid that Laban would take his daughters away by force [#4 – Young people, what was Jacob afraid would happen if he told Laban he was leaving? (take his wives)]
PRINCIPLE #2 – Honesty is the best policy.
Had Jacob been honest with Laban from the beginning, he would not had needed to leave secretly
Even when we are afraid of the consequences, we need to be honest
“Coming home from work, a woman stopped at the corner deli to buy a chicken for supper. The butcher reached into a barrel, grabbed the last chicken he had, flung it on the scales behind the counter, and told the woman its weight. She thought for a moment. ‘I really need a bit more chicken than that,’ she said. ‘Do you have any larger ones?’
Without a word, the butcher put the chicken back into the barrel, groped around as though finding another, pulled the same chicken out, and placed it on the scales. ‘This chicken weighs one pound more,’ he announced. The woman pondered her options and then said, ‘Okay. I’ll take them both.’ Honesty is still the best policy.”
Source: Clark Cothern, Tecumseh, Michigan. Leadership, Vol. 15, no. 4.
[https://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/preaching/sermon-illustrations/honesty-is-best-policy/].Application
Is there a situation you have been running away from because you are afraid of the consequences?
Have you been dishonest or misleading in your conversations about that situation?
I want to encourage you to choose honesty, today
#3 – My Next Step Today Is To: Choose honesty over fear as I face _________ (situation).
Jacob was honest with Laban and shared his fears concerning returning to his homeland
After addressing Laban’s first accusation, Jacob addressed his accusation about stealing his household gods
Theft
Transparency
Jacob gave Laban permission to search all his belongings, for not only his gods, but also for anything else that was his
Jacob took this accusation seriously, which is why the penalty for anyone who had stolen the gods would be death
Jacob was not afraid to be completely transparent with everyone gathered, meaning all of the relatives on both sides
Knowing Jacob and Laban’s history of being dishonest and deceptive, transparency was key
PRINCIPLE #3 – Transparency builds trust.
Jacob needed Laban to trust him as he prepared to take his daughters and grandchildren to his homeland
Allowing Laban to search every tent would build trust between them
The same is true for us
Transparency builds trust
Perhaps there is a situation where you need to build trust (work, school, marriage, other relationship, etc.)
Complete transparency is the key
#4 – My Next Step Today Is To: Be completely transparent in my relationship with ___________ (name), so that trust can be built or rebuilt.
Jacob took the first step in building trust by being completely transparent with Laban
Trickery
Someone in Jacob’s family had stolen Laban’s household gods – it was Rachel!
We are not told why Rachel stole her father’s household gods
Perhaps she was motivated by the same fear that Laban had
She grew up watching and probably participating in whatever rituals Laban did with his gods
Maybe she believed that these gods did provide supernatural guidance, so she wanted to make sure she had them with her
Rachel needed to learn to trust in the One true God instead of idols
She needed to trust in God when she was afraid concerning her future
It’s important to trust God when we are afraid.
Jacob willingly offered complete transparency because he was not aware of Rachel’s trickery
Laban did not waste time beginning his search
Searched (vv. 33-35)
Laban searched through all of the tents
He started with Jacob’s tent
Followed by Leah’s tent
Then Rachel’s tent
And finally the tents of two maidservants
Laban did not find anything that belonged to him, including his household gods
Rachel’s deception
Rachel concealed the gods she had stolen by putting them inside her camel’s saddle and then sitting on the saddle [#5 – Young people, where did Rachel hide the gods? (in her camel’s saddle)]
She knew that just sitting on the saddle would not be enough to deter Laban from searching there, so she lied about not being able to stand in his presence because of her monthly cycle
That obviously did the trick, because he did not search through her camel’s saddle
YOU
What battle do you need to worship the Lord for protecting you from?
With whom do you need to trust God to help you talk out a situation, even though you are afraid?
In what situation do you need to choose honesty over fear?
With whom do you need to be completely transparent, so that trust can be built or rebuilt?
WE
What do we need to worship the Lord for going to battle for us and protecting us from?
Is there a situation that we need to trust God to help us talk out, even if we are afraid?
With whom do we need to be completely transparent, so that trust can be built or rebuilt?
CONCLUSION
“Charles Swindoll, in Growing Deep in the Christian Life, tells about a man who bought fried chicken dinners for himself and his date late one afternoon. The attendant at the fast food outlet, however, inadvertently gave him the proceeds from the day's business–a bucket of money (much of it cash) instead of fried chicken. Swindoll writes:
‘After driving to their picnic site, the two of them sat down to enjoy some chicken. They discovered a whole lot more than chicken–over $800! But he was unusual. He quickly put the money back in the bag. They got back into the car and drove all the way back. By then, the manager was frantic.
‘Mr. Clean got out, walked in, and became an instant hero. ‘I want you to know I came by to get a couple of chicken dinners and wound up with all this money here.’
‘Well, the manager was thrilled to death. He said, ‘Let me call the newspaper. I'm gonna have your picture put in the local paper. You're one of the most honest men I've ever heard of.’
‘To which the man quickly responded, ‘Oh, no. No, no, don't do that!’ Then he leaned closer and whispered, ‘You see, the woman I'm with–she's, uh, somebody else's wife.’’
One can be honest and still not have integrity.
Source: Phillip Gunter in Fresh Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching (Baker), from the editors of Leadership.
[https://www.christianitytoday.com/pastors/preaching/sermon-illustrations/honesty-without-integrity/].
