Pocket gods

Smaller doesn't necessarily mean better. Just because there is not a giant idol standing in the corner of your house does not mean you couldn't fit an idol in your pocket. Rachel did. Read more...

​Genesis 31:34 - Now 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.

Jacob had arrived in Paddan Aram after running for his life from his angry brother, Esau. He stayed with and worked for his Uncle Laban. During his stay, Jacob ended up marrying two of Laban's daughters, Leah and Rachel. Eventually, Jacob became very wealthy working for his uncle. Fearing that he would never be able to leave, Jacob took his wives and possessions and fled from Paddan Aram.

In the midst of their flight, Rachel stole her father's household gods. Genesis 31:19 She kept them in her saddlebag. They were her "pocket gods." When her father finally caught up with his fleeing family, he asked about his household gods. Rachel never owned up to the truth.

Why did Rachel bring the household gods with her? Perhaps she was afraid of moving to a new country? Perhaps she was not secure in her position in the family (wife #2)? In any event, she needed security. And she decided that her security would come from her pocket gods, instead of the God of Israel.

Do you walk around with pocket gods? Maybe you don't bow down to a golden idol in the corner of your house. But, do you carry idols of security in your pocket. Could it be your wallet, your boyfriend, your title in ministry or your phone? We can deny it, like Rachel did. But, if we put our security in things, we carry pocket gods.

Allow the one true God to convict you of any security that you have placed in people or possessions. Ask him if you have any pocket gods with you. If he convicts you, don't follow Rachel. Rather, you should quickly acknowledge the sin and repent. God wants to free you from idolatry.