The Sin of Idolatry (Genesis 31:19)

Laban had gone to shear his sheep, and Rachel stole her father’s household gods.
—Genesis 31:19

Genesis 31:19 is a really humbling verse when you think about it—and when you consider its effects long after this moment. At this point, Jacob, Rachel, and their family are fleeing from Laban, who has, in a sense, held them captive. As they are fleeing, with all kinds of deception going on—so much that we could talk about here—this verse tells us that while Laban is out shearing his sheep, Rachel steals her father’s household gods.

Genesis 31:19 reminds us that our sin affects those closest to us.

The picture here is of a family in which a father has set up gods—little-g gods—in the house to be worshiped, prayed to, sought, leaned upon, and trusted in. The influence of those household gods does not stop with the father. It extends to his daughter, who adopts those gods to the point of stealing them and taking them with her. These idols will later appear in Jacob’s tent as he is traveling.

God will say, in effect, “What are you doing with these gods in your presence? Why are you worshiping household gods?” This is a picture of idolatry being passed down from one generation to the next, from one household to the next.

So as we pray according to Genesis 31:19, I want to encourage you to consider: What are the idols in your house? What are the idols in your life? What are the idols in your heart?

And how are those idols affecting not only you, but also the people around you—whether parents affecting children, children affecting parents, friends affecting friends, or even the church? When we think about sin, idolatry, and immorality, we must never be fooled into thinking that sin affects only us. That is a lie straight from the adversary. It is not true. Our sin almost always affects others, particularly those closest to us.

Genesis 31:19 also reminds us to set our eyes on the Giver, not the gifts.

So, God, we pray that you would rid us of idolatry in each of our hearts. Open our eyes and soften our hearts, even now, so that we might see the ways we are worshiping gifts instead of you, the Giver; trusting in people or things instead of placing all our trust in you; loving people or things in ways that should be reserved for you alone. You have commanded us to love you with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

Help us to recognize that idols are often good things—things we are prone to trust instead of you as our God. We confess our tendency to trust in money, focus on appearance, seek success, idolize sex and sexuality, and give ourselves to sexual immorality in thought, desire, and action. God, there are so many ways idolatry and immorality can take root in our homes and in our hearts—and these sins do not affect only us.

We pray all of this not merely for our sake, but for the sake of those around us. God, I pray that my children would be influenced by righteousness in me, not by sin or idolatry. I pray that my wife would be influenced by righteousness in me, not by immorality or misplaced loves. I pray this for my children and my grandchildren.

This verse calls us to flee all kinds of idolatry.

So, God, I pray this for my friends and for the church family you have given me the privilege to be part of—knowing that my sin does not affect only me, but those around me. For the good of my family, my church family, my friends, and for the good of those who are lost around me—who need to see you, Jesus, alive in me—I pray these things over my life and over every person listening right now.

Help us to flee all kinds of immorality and all kinds of idolatry, so that they would not take root in our hearts or our homes. And we pray the same for people far from us as we lift up unreached people groups each day.

A Prayer for the Dolpa People

God, we pray for the Dolpa people in Nepal, who are worshiping other gods—namely Buddhist idols—in villages high in the mountains. We ask that you would bring them to the knowledge of Jesus as the one true God. Cause the gospel to spread in Nepal, specifically to the Dolpa people. In our lives, our families, our churches, and among the nations, show that you alone are worthy of all our love, all our trust, and all our worship and joy.

In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.