NIV Once-A-Day Bible for WomenSample

Genesis 31:19–35

Years earlier, Rebekah helped Jacob deceive Isaac in order to secure the blessing of the firstborn. Then Rebekah’s brother, Laban, deceived Jacob by giving him Leah as a wife before giving him Rachel. Now Jacob deceived his uncle and father-in-law by secretly running away. And Rachel deceived her father by stealing his idols and hiding them. Laban’s outrage shows hypocrisy—​a common characteristic when family flaws are passed from one generation to the next. It is each generation’s responsibility to break any cycle that plagues the family. If we’re careful and discerning, we can let our ancestors’ flaws stop with us by refusing to pass them on to our children.