Genesis 31:24 -- On Listening and Calming Down

"And God came to Laban the Syrian in a dream by night, and said unto him, Take heed that thou speak not to Jacob either good or bad."
Genesis 31:24


I think it is interesting here that God warns Laban to chill. We see in other stories God counseling people to run away, but in this case, Jacob had already decided to leave, and perhaps Laban was a man that would listen to the Lord, so God intervened in a different way. Laban left angry, chasing Jacob down, but he made peace with him and everything turned out okay. ... I wonder if, in other stories, God attempts to warn people and they don't listen, which is why it turns out that people have to run away or there is a more tragic conclusion.

Perhaps in our own lives there are times when God warns us to chill/calm down, or to back down from our position, or to let go of our need for what we percieve as justice, but we aren't listening. Here, Laban thought he was in the right, but God led him to listen to Joseph's perspective, and he was able to let go of his anger. Probably a good model for us as well.

Today, let's work on listening to God, and being able to calm down when we are feeling angry or out of control. Let's let go of whatever it is that is preventing us from being kind or making peace, and learn to do things God's way.