The Journey Home

God had called Jacob to return to his homeland. Rachel and Leah had agreed to go with the whole family.

Jacob began to get ready for the journey.

They needed to gather the children.

Pack the things they would need.

And bring the sheep and goats together.

The youngest children would ride on the camels. The animals would walk.

It would be a long journey, and they would need to travel carefully.

But Jacob was afraid that Laban would try to stop them from leaving.

So, while his uncle was far away cutting the wool from his sheep, Jacob left without saying goodbye.

The family crossed a river and continued toward the mountains.

The camels walked slowly.

The sheep bleated.

The children traveled close to their mothers.

Behind them was Laban’s home.

Ahead of them was the road home.

Three days later, Laban learned that they had left.

He gathered several relatives and went to look for them.

They traveled for days, until they came near the place where Jacob had camped.

But before he caught up with them, God spoke to Laban in a dream and warned him to be careful about how he treated Jacob.

When they arrived, Laban was upset.

“Why did you leave without telling me?” he asked. “I did not even get to say goodbye to my daughters and grandchildren!”

Jacob told him the truth.

“I was scared. I thought you wouldn’t let us leave.”

Then he remembered all the time he had worked for him.

Twenty years had passed!

Jacob had cared for his animals under the hot sun and through cold nights. He had completed the years of work he had promised for Leah and Rachel. Then he had worked another six years to build his own flock.

He had a lot to say, and he was angry.

But that meeting did not end in a fight.

Laban suggested making an agreement.

Jacob stood a stone upright. The others gathered more stones and made a pile.

Those stones would help them remember their promise: neither would cross over to harm the other.

Laban also asked Jacob to treat his daughters well.

The family shared a meal and spent the night there.

In the morning, Laban hugged and kissed his daughters and grandchildren. He wished them well and went back home.

Jacob continued his journey.

Now he could go on with his family.

But there was still someone he thought about a lot.

His brother Esau.

The last time he had seen him, Esau had been very angry. Jacob had tricked him and then had to leave.

Would he still be angry after so many years?

Jacob did not know yet.

The road was taking him toward his homeland and toward a meeting with his brother.

He was afraid.

But he also remembered God’s promise:

“I will be with you.”

And with his family beside him, he kept walking.