Who do you trust? All believers need to ask themselves this question each day. Sometimes, we get so caught up in our busy schedules that our lives get centered around our busyness. At other times, we tend to put our trust in the ‘mini gods’ of our lives. The gods of money, fame, wealth, pleasure, love, food, entertainment among others have taken the focus of many people away from God. Unfortunately, the subtlety of such idolatry sometimes makes us believe that we trust God. But, our faith lies in our possessions and the things that surround us. When it is time to move with God, we have to be intentional to let go of the gods of our past and cling on to God who is our present and future. According to Jesus, “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money” (Matthew 6:24). Joshua threw a challenge for the Israelites: “But if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15). When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household gods. (Genesis 31:19) Rachel and Leah had similar experiences. They both lived under their father’s roof and obviously served their father’s gods until they were united with Jacob. After the years of living together, we would expect them to follow Jacob’s God and put their trust in Him. The sisters knew God and even prayed to Him. God listened to them and gave them children. However, Rachel had not fully forsaken the gods of her fathers household. Jacob had an encounter with God and decided to leave back to his father’s land. He informed Rachel and Leah who both consented to leaving. But, Jacob fled from Laban, his father-in-law. He did not inform Laban of his intention to leave. Laban was not around when Jacob and the family fled. According to Genesis 31:19, “When Laban had gone to shear his sheep, Rachel stole her father’s household gods.” Wait a minute! What does Rachel need those household gods for? Did those gods help her in any way? Why would she even consider stealing such gods when the family has been worshiping Yahweh? Did Rachel have fears that Yahweh, the God of Jacob, could not take care of her? Was Rachel into idolatry all this time? We might not have straight answers to some of these questions but what we know is that Rachel forsook God when she stole those idols. She did not need any ancestral gods but she failed to understand that her being married to Jacob meant that she had been translated from idolatry to the worship of God. For all the years, Rachel had secretly relied on household gods and articles. No wonder she could trade her husband for mandrakes! Many believers have the Rachel mentality. We have accepted Jesus as our Lord and Saviour but we still have fears that He might not be enough for us. Tentatively, we hold on to the idols of our past. We tend to rely on those things that bring us pain and worry. When you are saved, you are saved from all addictions, past sins, evil lifestyles, godless behaviour, etc. Rachel, like many of us, had no need for those household gods. In fact, she lied about not having them in her possession. Jacob unknowingly laid a curse on the person who stole the idols: “”But if you find anyone who has your gods, that person shall not live. In the presence of our relatives, see for yourself whether there is anything of yours here with me; and if so, take it.” Now Jacob did not know that Rachel had stolen the gods.” (Genesis 31:32). A thorough search was done but “Rachel had taken the household gods and put them inside her camel’s saddle and was sitting on them. Laban searched through everything in the tent but found nothing. Rachel said to her father, “Don’t be angry, my Lord, that I cannot stand up in your presence; I’m having my period.” So he searched but could not find the household gods.”” (Genesis 31:34-35). Rachel stole the gods and lied about it. Jacob was returning to Bethel (house of God) and Rachel was taking household gods to the House of God. Will Rachel accomplish her mission? Dear God, if I had carried any household gods of my past to the House of God, I ask for forgiveness. I denounce all household gods that have hijacked my destiny and made me susceptible to pain, fears, lies and deception. I refuse to cross over with the baggage of the past. Have mercy on me and deliver me from sin and evil. In Jesus’ name I pray… Amen.
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