Genesis 31:19-30

Rachel was a thief. She stole her father’s household gods. The scriptures do not give us any reason to explain why she took them. The bible does not give us a single clue, however we can speculate. Several possible reasons come to mind.

She may have taken them for religious reasons. She may have placed some faith in them. Perhaps she had not yet committed to serving the one true God.

She may have taken them for sentimental reasons. They had been part of her life as she was growing up. They would have been around the house. They were something small that she could take with her to remind her of home.

Perhaps she took them because they had some material value. We know from what she said that she believed her father had not treated her fairly financially. The small gods may have been worth some money.

Perhaps she took them out of spite. She may have just wanted to strike back at a father. She knew he would miss them, and it would make him angry.

All of this is speculation. We do know that she took them, and her father wanted them back.

Here is what I know about the god she took. Any god that is small enough to be stolen is not big enough to be worshipped. Any god that can be made by man is not god enough to have made man. Any god that can be hidden is not god enough to find us when we’re hiding. Any god we can hold in our hands is not god enough to hold us in his hands.

Rachel did not steal God. Rachel stole pretend gods. God wants to be a part of your life. All you have to do is invite him in. But know this, if you accept God into your life, He will be God. God does not play pretend.